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Motion · S6M-13922 · 18 Jul 2024

Kirkcudbright Gallery Highlights the Work of Portrait Painter, Sir Henry Raeburn

Lodged by Finlay Carson (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party) Standard Motion 30 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament congratulates Kirkcudbright Gallery on staging an exhibition highlighting the work of the distinguished Scottish portrait painter, Sir Henry Raeburn, who, it believes, is widely recognised as Scotland’s foremost and finest portrait painter, and who was born in Stockbridge, Edinburgh, and takes his place in the pantheon of the best in a golden age of British portraiture alongside Allan Ramsay, Thomas Gainborough, Joshu Reynolds and Thomas Lawrence; recognises that he created about 1,000 known works, painted in his most prolific years from circa 1780 to his death; acknowledges that Raeburn is celebrated particularly for his paintings of men, although this exhibition will challenge that premise and show characterful paintings of women and examples from his very fine work illustrating children; understands that the exhibition includes approximately 40 works, drawn from both public and private UK collections, mostly in southern Scotland, many of which will be works never before seen in public; recognises the role of Dumfries and Galloway Council, which partnered with Kirkcudbright 2000 Ltd, a community group established in 1999 to campaign for the establishment of a major art gallery in Kirkcudbright to reflect the town’s rich art heritage; further recognises that, from 2000 to 2015, Kirkcudbright 2000 arranged an annual top-quality summer art exhibition in the former Town Hall, now the Kirkcudbright Galleries, to demonstrate the interest and economic impact of such exhibitions; understands that a partnership was eventually established with Dumfries and Galloway Council to drive forward Kirkcudbright 2000’s objective, culminating in the opening of the Kirkcudbright Galleries in 2018; acknowledges that this enticing exhibition has been 18 months in preparation; praises what it sees as the enormous contribution of curator Amanda Herries, who has stated that "Raeburn’s portraits are extraordinarily well-observed records of Scottish society", while thanking Anne Ramsbottom, museums curator, West DGC, arts officer Lily Knott at Dumfries and Galloway Council, and the many others who worked tirelessly to bring this exhibition, Eye to Eye, to fruition, and hopes that the exhibition will attract local residents, art lovers and tourists to visit Kirkcudbright Galleries, where it will run until 29 September 2024.

Supporters (30)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.