Skates Laced, Brush Primed: A Uniquely Scottish Holiday Reflection
By Zachary Vincent
On this Christmas day, as so many around the world celebrate a holiday firmly placed within the winter season (at least in the Northern hemisphere), the halls of the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh will remain empty, awaiting the return of visitors in eager stillness. Among the ionic works of art hanging on those walls as tribute to the place of Scotland in the international artistic community is one rather unassuming painting by Sir Henry Raeburn (1756-1823) affectionately called The Skating Minister (Figure 1). Depicting the kindly-looking Reverend Dr Robert Walker (1755-1808) skating on Duddingston Loch outside the city of Edinburgh, the painting has become an unintentional symbol not only of the activities so loved in winter, but also of Scotland’s artistic gift to the celebrations of the holiday season.
Figure 1 : Sir Henry Raeburn, The Skating Minister, c.1795, oil on canvas, 76.20 by 63.50 cm., courtesy of National Galleries Scotland.
The narrative behind the scene of the famous portrait is telling about the types of cultural exchanges and influence of patronage at work in 18th century Edinburgh. Reverend Walker, though Scottish by birth and self-definition, spent an important part of his formative life in Holland, which shows in several key areas of the portrait. The very act of skating is one with distinctly Dutch origins, and it is in the Netherlands where Reverend Walker was believed to have learned how to ice skate. The skates he is painted gliding on are even of Dutch design, betraying at lease a glimpse into the international spread of holiday traditions which had occurred before the 18th century was over. The royal patronage enjoyed by the minister, coming directly from King George III, was critical to the ministry held by the Reverend at the time his portrait was painted, as the Canongate Kirk was one of the most important ecclesiastical positions in Scotland and could only be awarded directly by the reigning monarch. It was this type of privilege which allowed Reverend Walker both to tend to his flock and to fulfil important social obligations to the wider elite Edinburgh community, of which his membership in the Edinburgh Skating Society is one prime example.
As interesting and influential as the subject of Sir Henry Raeburn’s famous portrait is, the artist and his techniques are perhaps of even more interest in understanding this key work of Scottish art. Raeburn, who has come to be known as among Scotland’s best portrait artists, used unique painting techniques which help to mark this as one of his own works. Though there has been intermittent debate about the true identity of the artist of The Skating Minister portrait, several key signs point to Raeburn. The view of beautiful Duddingston Loch in the background of the work is lacking in specific detail and imparts more of an impression than an exact replication of reality. This generalist attitude to setting details is one of the key features of Raeburn’s portraits. The scientifically proven alterations made to the Reverend’s hat in the painting is also consistent with Raeburn’s style, as he was known to work without the aid of drawing studies or sketches made ahead of time. These details, as well as the types of pigments and technique of colour mixing used, have made Raeburn by far the most likely author of the work. Beyond merely opening room for debate, it really is the artistic techniques of the painting in conjunction with the story of the sitter which give it its intriguing, festive flair so often admired.
Today is an especially important day to take a look at The Skating Minister and all it represents for this season, as it really is the small moments and tiny details which make important holiday memories stick for years. By enjoying Scotland’s wintery heritage through the lens of the international, well-connected Reverend Walker, viewers can marvel at his deceptively simple gliding movement, his Dutch skates, and his serene expression amongst a stunning landscape. May the simplicity, beauty, and Scottish cheer of Sir Henry Raeburn’s The Skating Minister prove a distraction from any stress or tensions of the holiday season and be a reminder to focus on those people, traditions, and activities which most matter at this time.
Bibliography
“Reverend Robert Walker (1755 - 1808) Skating on Duddingston Loch.” National Galleries Scotland. Reverend Robert Walker (1755 - 1808) Skating on Duddingston Loch | National Galleries of Scotland.
Thomson, Duncan. “Raeburn revisited: the ‘Skating minister.’” The Burlington Magazine 149, no. 1248 (March 2007): pp. 185-190. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20074764.