Sir John Watson Gordon (Scottish, 1788-1864), Portrait of Reverend William Horne

Oil on canvas (lined), 1821, signed and dated at lower right, presented in a period frame with gallery plaque.

Stretcher size 50 1/4 x 40 in.; Frame dimensions 64 1/2 x 54 in.

The Estate of the late Dr. William "Bill" Webb Johnston and Mr. Charles "Chuck" Raymond West, Hillsborough, NC

Born in Edinburgh, Sir John Watson Gordon studied at the Trustees’ Academy before initially pursuing a career in landscape painting. However, he soon shifted his focus to portraiture, a genre in which he excelled. His talent earned him a strong reputation, and he painted many notable figures, including Sir Walter Scott, Thomas Carlyle, and members of the Scottish aristocracy.
Gordon’s success led to his election as President of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1850, where he played a crucial role in promoting the arts in Scotland. In recognition of his contributions, he was knighted in 1851 and appointed as the official portrait painter to Queen Victoria in Scotland. His portraits, often characterized by a restrained yet powerful realism, remain an important record of Scotland’s intellectual and political elite during his time. Today, his works are housed in major collections, including the National Galleries of Scotland, cementing his legacy as one of Scotland’s finest portraitists.

Minor faint craquelure; light surface grime; minor scattered retouch visible under UV light; minor rubbing and flaking to frame.