The Skating Minister (The Reverend Robert Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch) 1784

How did this portrait become an icon of Scottish culture? The oil painting was relatively unknown until the middle of the twentieth century – today, however, it is among the most well-known and best loved works in the collection of the Scottish National Gallery. 🖼️ Known by its short title ‘The Skating Minister’, this work was painted by the Scottish artist Henry Raeburn (1756-1823) in the 1790s. It depicts a member of the clergy, Reverend Robert Walker, in the act of ice skating on the frozen Duddingston Loch. The composition is unique in late eighteenth century portraiture. Walker has been placed centrally in the canvas, with one leg raised as he glides across the frozen water. His arms are folded to his chest and he leans forward. His other foot is planted firmly on the surface, providing a sense of stability and confidence. We are immediately faced with the impression that Walker is a strong skater. Dressed all in black aside from the white cravat fastened around his throat, Walker’s precise outfit provides effective contrast with the murky, muddy tones of the background landscape. Raeburn’s impression of a cloudy sky and misty mountains capture the typical Scottish weather. ️ Take a look at the ice which forms the foreground of the painting, at the very bottom of the canvas. Do you see the criss-crossing lines, where the skater blades have scratched the surface? Raeburn achieved this effect by carving out sections of the oil paint. Cool, right? ❄️ This work was painted during the Scottish Enlightenment, a period of rapid intellectual achievement. It was purchased for just £525 by the National Gallery of Scotland, where it immediately catapulted to fame due to its unconventional subject matter. The painting appears in a wealth of merchandise sold by the gallery, and was even featured on a stamp in 1973! Despite its iconic status, the attribution of ‘The Skating Minister’ is still contested. Some art historians believe it wasn’t painted by Henry Raeburn after all!