Edinburgh: 1st May 2018:        Sir Henry Raeburn FRSE RA RSA

Two portraits by one of Scotland’s greatest artists have entered the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland, thanks to the Acceptance in Lieu scheme, which enables works of art to be given to public collections and offset against inheritance tax charges.

Raeburn, who was born in Edinburgh and lived from 1756 to 1823, was the leading portrait painter of his time in Scotland, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished and innovative in European art of the period. He served as His Majesty's Painter and Limner to King George IV, a position within the Royal household unique to Scotland.

The portraits, of two young boys, have been described as among the finest of Raeburn’s work still in private hands. They depict the two eldest sons of Sir William Forbes, 7th Baronet of Pitsligo in Aberdeenshire, a wealthy and influential banker, art collector and patron.

The paintings were commissioned in 1809 -1811, when the young boys were around seven-years-old.

The acceptance of the two portraits settled £631,600 of tax, and come from the Forbes of Pitsligo Collection.