Grace Home Purves (d.1814), 1st Lady Milne

This portrait of Grace Home Purves, 1st Lady Milne, at Paxton House records a Scottish noblewoman from the Borders region. Raeburn’s portraits of Scottish women combine the formal requirements of aristocratic portraiture with a sensitivity to individual character that distinguishes them from the more idealized English tradition. 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.

The portrait shows Raeburn’s characteristic lighting scheme with strong illumination from one side creating dramatic modeling. His handling of female subjects shows a restraint that balances elegance with realistic observation.