In a remarkable cultural discovery, a long-lost portrait of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, painted by the esteemed Scottish artist Sir Henry Raeburn, has resurfaced after more than 220 years. The painting, thought to have vanished from the public eye since the early 19th century, has now been authenticated and is on display at the National Galleries Scotland: National on the Mound in Edinburgh.
The portrait was originally commissioned in 1803 by London publishers Cadell & Davies to refresh Burns’s image for future editions of his work. Despite its significance, the painting disappeared from records after the closure of the publisher in the 1840s. Its whereabouts remained a mystery until it unexpectedly emerged during a house clearance in Surrey, where it was consigned to auction with an estimate of just £300–£500. A keen eye from Burns scholar and enthusiast Dr William Zachs, Director of the Blackie House Library and Museum in Edinburgh, recognised its potential importance and acquired the work for £68,000 at Wimbledon in March 2025.
After careful conservation and expert verification, the lost Raeburn portrait was confirmed as the original 1803 depiction of Burns. The work shows Burns in the charismatic light befitting a literary icon, executed with Raeburn’s characteristic warmth and expressive brushwork.
The exhibition, titled Found! | Raeburn’s Lost Portrait of Robert Burns, opened in January 2026 and offers free public viewing in time for Burns Night, the annual celebration of the bard’s life and legacy on 25 January. It will later travel to the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway from July.
More than a painting, this rediscovery reconnects modern audiences with Scotland’s cultural heritage, bringing fresh perspective to how we remember one of the nation’s most beloved figures.
