Long-Lost Portrait of Robert Burns by Sir Henry Raeburn Discovered After Two Centuries

A previously missing portrait of Scottish poet Robert Burns, created by artist Sir Henry Raeburn, has been identified after more than two hundred years. The artwork emerged during a property clearance in Surrey, England, and was subsequently offered at auction in Wimbledon, London, in March 2025. Initially estimated to sell for a modest sum, the painting ultimately fetched £68,000. Dr. William Zachs, Director of Blackie House Library and Museum in Edinburgh and a dedicated scholar of Burns, recognized the piece's potential importance and acquired it, suspecting it might be the long-sought portrait. Following acquisition, the work underwent cleaning and expert analysis, which verified its authenticity as the lost Raeburn painting. Originally commissioned in 1803 by publishers Cadell & Davies for twenty guineas, the portrait was intended to be engraved for use in future editions of Burns's writings but had disappeared from public view shortly thereafter. Its rediscovery represents a significant find in Scottish cultural heritage, connecting to the legacy of one of the nation's most celebrated literary figures through a work by a prominent portraitist of the period.