Artwork
The Drummond Children
The Drummond Children is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist Henry Raeburn. It dates from 1809 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a family portrait, the work presents the Drummond children together as a unified group.
The Drummond Children is a family portrait depicting three siblings, George Drummond, Margaret Drummond, and Henry Dundas Drummond, with George identified as the main subject. A horse also appears in the composition. As a family portrait, the work presents the Drummond children together as a unified group.
The inclusion of the horse alongside the children suggests themes of childhood, status, and the rural or sporting pursuits associated with aristocratic Scottish family life in the early 19th century.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1809, this family portrait by Henry Raeburn is an oil painting on canvas. The work presents a large-scale composition, measuring approximately 239.4 by 153 centimetres. The piece depicts George Drummond, Margaret Drummond, and Henry Dundas Drummond, with a horse integrated into the scene.
As a characteristic example of Raeburn's portraiture from this period, the medium allows for the detailed rendering of the sitters and their attire.
History & Provenance
Created in 1809, The Drummond Children is an oil-on-canvas portrait painted by Sir Henry Raeburn. The work depicts three children, George Drummond, Margaret Drummond, and Henry Dundas Drummond, alongside a horse and measures 239.4 cm in height and 153 cm in width. The provenance chain indicates that the artwork was formerly owned by Edward Harkness and Mary Emma Stillman Harkness, following which the piece entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains housed.
Overview
This oil painting, titled The Drummond Children, presents a group portrait set within a natural, wooded environment. It features three young individuals accompanied by a horse, capturing a moment of interaction in a landscape setting. The work is executed in oil paint, a common medium for portraiture during its period of creation.
Context
While not explicitly stated in the provided facts, the suggestion to explore Henry Raeburn's work implies his authorship of The Drummond Children. Raeburn was a prominent Scottish portrait painter active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, known for his ability to capture the likeness and character of his sitters, often within grand or naturalistic settings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Henry Raeburn (; 4 March 1756 – 8 July 1823) was a Scottish portrait painter. He served as Portrait Painter to King George IV in Scotland.
