A missing portrait of the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns, has been found during a house clearance.
Dated to 1803, the painting by renowned 18th– and 19th-century artist Sir Henry Raeburn had been missing for over 200 years before it was rediscovered in March 2025.
Burns, who died in 1796, is the National Poet of Scotland and commemorated annually on Burns Night.
Alexander Nasmyth was the only painter whom Burns would allow to paint his portrait. Burns sat for him in 1787.
Raeburn’s portrait is thought to be based on his own memory of meeting Burns, with the Nasmyth portrait used as a reference.
Publishers Cadell and Davies intended for Raeburn’s painting to be used in all editions of Burns’ books going forward.
But with numerous copies of Nasmyth’s work circulating, Dr William Zachs – who bought the Raeburn piece at a London auction for £68,000 – did not realise the true provenance of the artwork.
In reality, it took months for Zachs to get the artwork cleaned and examined before he discovered that it was Raeburn’s original.
The Raeburn portrait is now on display next to its earlier counterpart at the National Galleries of Scotland.
The 200-year-old mystery is over. Raeburn’s work unites Burns’ poetry with a long-lost portrait of the poet.
Image by Max Brown for The Student