Mrs Brougham

This portrait of Mrs Brougham at the Hatton Gallery records a member of the Brougham family, possibly connected to the future Lord Chancellor Henry Brougham. The Newcastle gallery’s collection reflects the northern English connections that occasionally brought Raeburn commissions from beyond his Scottish base. Characteristic of the artist's mature approach, the work displays bold, direct brushwork building form through vigorous strokes of light and shadow rather than careful blending, with minimal underdrawing.

Raeburn’s characteristic bold handling creates a direct, immediate portrait. The female subject is rendered with the warmth and directness that distinguish his approach from more idealized English portrait conventions.