Portrait of Alexander Edgar 

Henry Raeburn painted this portrait of Alexander Edgar using oils, sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. The composition is striking in its simplicity, with a tight focus on the subject's head and shoulders against a muted, dark background. Observe how Raeburn uses light to sculpt Edgar's face, creating a sense of volume and presence. The colour palette is restrained, dominated by earthy browns and creams, which lends the painting a sober, dignified air. But consider the brushwork: loose and expressive, particularly in the rendering of the coat and background. This technique was innovative for its time. Raeburn destabilizes the conventions of formal portraiture through his emphasis on naturalism and directness. There is an honesty in Edgar’s gaze, a lack of idealization that speaks to a broader shift in cultural values. The portrait challenges the viewer to engage with the subject as an individual, rather than simply as a symbol of status or power. Notice how the formal qualities of the painting—its composition, light, and brushwork—work together to create a sense of intimacy and psychological depth, reflecting the changing intellectual landscape of the period.