Portrait of John Cuninghame, 13th Laird of Criagends

This magnificent portrait of John Cuninghame, the 13th Laird of Craigends, was proudly displayed on the walls of (old and new) Craigends House from its commission, c.1810, until the break up of the estate in 1961. It is painted by the famous Sir Henry Raeburn and is considered to be "comparable in quality" to such masterpieces as Sir Walter Scott and William Hunt of Pittencrieff". The portrait is currently in a private collection, exchanging hands for $79,500 in 2000.

The portrait

The portrait, measuring 237.5cm by 146.1cm (93" by 57"), features the Laird in full length, holding a shot gun. The pose gives the sitter a heroic appearance setting him above just an average landowner.

The background is particularly interesting. Raeburn once said Landscapes in the background of a portrait ought to be nothing more than the shadow of a landscape; effect is all that is wanted. In this case the hazy landscape represents Cuninghame's large landed estates, and appears to be directly influenced by the landscape of Craigends. The sheer rock-face behind the figure appears to be a representation of the The Gorge at Gryffe Bridge. The hazy impression of a river on the left also matches the River Gryffe.

The portrait does appear to capture Mr Cuninghame in his natural setting. In his diaries of 1814-1815 John Cuninghame often mentions going for a walk in the woods with his gun (to shoot hares). It is quite possible that in the process of planning the portrait Raeburn accompanied Mr Cuninghame in his estate and was influenced by this dramatic geological feature.

The Arist

At the start of the 19th century Raeburn was securely established as Scotland's greatest portrait painter. It is a reflection on the wealth and influence that Mr Cuninghame held that he was able to commission Raeburn at this time.

Provenance

The portrait was passed down through the Cuninghame family by descent, from the sitter to Helen Laura Pearson (sister-in-law of John Charles Cuninghame, the 17th and final laird). On her death the estate was divided and the painting was sold by auction on the 27th of October 1961 (just days after the Mansionhouse Auction in Craigends) at Christie's in London. At that time the portrait fetched £1,785, and went in to a private collection in England.

It exchanged hands in 1985, and again in 2000 when it fetched $79,500 at Sotheby's New York. The current owner is unknown.

Exhibitions

The only known exhibition of the painting was at the Scottish Exhibition of National History, Art and Industry held at Kelvingrove Park in 1911 (no. 294). It was displayed in the Palace of Art as part of an exhibition designed to "illustrate the progress and development of Scottish Art over the past hundred years". Clearly this portrait would have been an example from very early in that period.

The portrait was loaned with the permission of the sitter's grandson, John Charles Cuninghame, the 17th and last Laird of Craigends.