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John Beugo


Robert Burns, 1759 - 1796. Poet

  • Robert Burns, 1759 - 1796. Poet
    National Galleries of Scotland collection. Photo, National Galleries of Scotland.

About this artwork

This portrait of Scottish poet Robert Burns is a line engraving, based on a drawing by Archibald Skirving. In its turn, Skirving’s drawing was inspired by Alexander Nasmyth’s famous half-length portrait of Burns – one of the very few portraits created from the life. Beugo’s engraving combines the fashionable dress and rural background of Nasmyth’s painting with the idealised, dreamy features of Skirving’s portrait drawing of Burns. All three works are in the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland. This engraving was part of a large bequest made to the Galleries in 1886 by William Findlay Watson, who was a keen collector of prints and drawings.

Updated before 2020

Artists:
John Beugo (1759 - 1841) English
After:
Archibald Skirving (1749 - 1819) Scottish
Title:
Robert Burns, 1759 - 1796. Poet
Date:
1801
Materials:
Line engraving on paper
Measurements:
10.16 x 7.62 cm
Object type:
Work on paper
Credit line:
Bequeathed by William Finlay Watson 1886
Accession number:
SP IV 29.13
Gallery:
Scottish National Portrait Gallery (Print Room)
View by appointment
Depicted:
Robert Burns
Subjects:
Burns Scottish literature Writing and literature

True colours

John Beugo

Archibald Skirving