ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Long-Lost Portrait of Scottish Poet Robert Burns Located Following Two-Century Search

cultural-heritage · 2026-03-24

A portrait of the celebrated Scottish poet Robert Burns, which had been missing since 1840, has been discovered after an extensive search spanning two centuries. The disappearance prompted numerous investigations and even spiritualist attempts to locate the artwork. The recent identification resolves a longstanding mystery that has captivated both academic researchers and amateur detectives interested in cultural heritage.

Key facts

  • A portrait of Robert Burns disappeared in 1840.
  • The artwork had been missing for approximately 200 years.
  • Various efforts were made to find the painting over the decades.
  • The search included both scholarly investigations and unconventional methods.
  • The portrait has now been successfully located.

Entities

Artists

  • Robert Burns

Locations

  • Scotland

Sources