Skip to content
Home
Favourites
0
Advanced search
Shopping cart
0
Register
Log in
Images of Edinburgh
Browse map
Area A - Z
Browse by date
Exhibitions
Current exhibition
All exhibitions
Collections
About the collections
Browse by theme
Subject A - Z
The image library for the collections of Edinburgh Libraries and Museums and Galleries
Images of Edinburgh
Browse map
Area A - Z
Browse by date
Exhibitions
Current exhibition
All exhibitions
Collections
About the collections
Browse by theme
Subject A - Z
Subject matches "Lord Provosts" or its children
Back to search results
Sir James Stirling, Lord Provost
Raeburn, Henry, Oil painting
Item
of 56
Sir James Stirling, Lord Provost
Sir James Stirling, Lord Provost
Add to favourites
Share
Item record
About this image
Related
Location
Category
Museums & Galleries Item
Item no
21121
Title
Sir James Stirling, Lord Provost
Description
The sitter, Sir James Stirling, was renowned for his pallid complexion and in this portrait he is seen sitting in a high backed red damask chair, wearing a black velvet suit and the chains of office. The heavy drape behind the chair is pulled back to reveal a distant view of the Edinburgh Bridewell prison, built to the design of Robert Adam for the New Town in 1791-95.
Artist / maker
Raeburn, Henry
Size
127.0 x 102.0 cm
Type
Oil painting
Location
City Art Centre
Accession number
CAC2005/8
This portrait of Sir James Stirling, Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh intermittently from 1790 to 1800. This is one of a series completed by Raeburn of Edinburgh worthies at the end of the 18th century. They all share compositional similarities and even the sane studio furniture. Clearly the artist dictated the composition.
James Stirling was Lord Provost 1790 - 1792, and again between 1794 - 1796 and 1798 - 1800. In Raeburn's portrait he has a pale complexion, an attribute that was well known. A contemporary tale relates to an occasion where Sir James, in full processional robes, was pointed out to a country woman. "Is that the Lord Provost?" she exclaimed, "I thocht it was the corpse rinnin' awa' with the mort cloth!"
Exhibitions with this item
Other views of this item
Related images
Related subjects
Clothing and dress
>
Garments
>
Robes
People
>
Adults
>
Men
People
>
Politics and government
>
Lord Provosts
More like this