Paintings by

 John Horsburgh

1835  -  1924

Here are a few Horsburgh paintings that I know of in private collections

I have listed all the paintings under John Horsburgh b.1835. though perhaps one or more might be the work of John's son, John A Horsburgh, b.1862.

If you can give me any advice on how to distinguish between the work of these two artists, please e-mail me.

      Thank you.

-  Peter Stubbs:  December 2, 2007

Robert Burns

 "HORSBURGH, 1895

A large signed portrait in oil of Robert Burns.

Query from: Maynard Klenzing of Portland, Oregon, USA

Sir Walter Scott

 "HORSBURGH, 1895

A large signed portrait in oil of Sir Walter Scott.

Query from: Maynard Klenzing of Portland, Oregon, USA

Oval Portraits

HORSBURGH, EDIN 1887

Two oil paintings.  Both are oval  on cardboard.  The subjects are a man and his wife.  [A. Homoutova].

Painting in a gold frame.

HORSBURGH, EDIN 1862 (?)

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Lady in Black

HORSBURGH, EDIN 1892

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Gentleman

HORSBURGH, EDIN 1879

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Isabella Grieve Brown

HORSBURGH, EDIN 1879

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Boy holding a Model Yacht

HORSBURGH, EDIN 1892

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Alice Alexander

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John Charles Pearson, Montreal, Quebec, Canada wrote:

"I am currently doing an evaluation of great interest, of two portraits of the Right Honorable Sir Charles Tupper and his wife, both painted by John Horsburgh in 1888.

 Could you please tell me of any information with regards to the works and if any member of the family has retained lists of sketches, log books of sitters (invoicing?) whom I may contact to further fill my file.

 Is there a comprehensive artist’s biography that I may attach to my evaluation for archival records to be attached with the two official portraits?"

Joanne Quigley, South Armagh, Ireland, has sent me an oil painting of a lady, not yet identified.

The painting is signed 'John Horsburgh Sen, Edinburgh', rather than the more usual signature that I have seen, presumably used by his son, 'J Horsburgh, Edin. [Year]'.

"At Heriot-Watt University we hold two paintings attributed to Horsburgh:

a)  J. Horsburgh: Watt Institution and School of Arts, watercolour HW.WA0211

The image shows the Watt Institution and School of Arts building in Adam Square, before the building was demolished in 1871 of the redevelopment of the area to form Chambers Street.

Signed Horsburgh Edin 1871

b)  J. Horsburgh: Thomas Murray, portrait,
 HW.WA0028

Dr Thomas Murray, (1792-1872), political economist, served as Secretary of the Edinburgh School of Arts and the Watt Institution and School of Arts from 1844-1866.

I assume that both images are by John Horsburgh the photographer and painter (1835-1924) rather than the engraver (b.1819).  Would you be in a position to confirm this?"

Ann E Jones, Riccarton, Edinburgh:  August 9, 2007

Ann added that Heriot Watt University also holds an album of 22 photographs by John Horsburgh

Ann:  It seems likely to  me that both your paintings will by John Horsburgh (1835-1924).

However, for a more informed opinion from the National Galleries of Scotland or the Edinburgh City Art Centre.  I believe that they both hold paintings by members of the Horsburgh family in their collections.

Peter Stubbs:  August 9, 2007

Thank you to Clive Press for allowing me to reproduce paintings by John Horsburgh of his g g grandparents, William Cobb Smith of Benholm Castle and his wife Jessie Smith (Rae).

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Thank you to Marie Burns, London, for allowing me to reproduce this portrait on white opaque glass.

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Thank you to 'Mrs MA' for telling me about paintings by Horsburgh, one of her two uncles and the other of her aunt.  She asks if there is any way of telling which Horsburgh painted them.

Here are the paintings of the two uncles and the aunt, together with an enlargement of the Horsburgh signature from one of these paintings:

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Alistair Skelton, Auckland, New Zealand, tells me that he has inherited a Horsburgh painting of his g.g.g.grandmother,  Isabella Douglas, wife of Robert Storey.

Alistair adds that the painting is dated 1877, and is presumably by Horsburgh senior.

Please click on the images below to enlarge the painting and the signature and read a little more about this painting:

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 John Horsburgh 1835-1924

and

John A Horsburgh b1862

Photography

The Horsburgh photographic business are listed in the list of Edinburgh Professional Photographers on this web site,  trading in the name of:

-  1861-1888:  John Horsburgh

-  1889-1898:  John Horsburgh & Son

-  1899-1915:  John Alfred Horsburgh

Painting

The following details are taken from the RCS Photographers Index, using the entries that appeared in Edinburgh trade directories:

- 1889:  John Horsburgh was working from home, 48 St Alban's Road, as a 'painter and art consultant'.

- 1889:  John A Horsburgh was working as 'portrait and miniature painter' as well as being a photographer.

The RCS Photographers Index lists John Horsburgh as: "fl. 1863-99".

The paintings listed above on this page all date from the period 1862-1901.
Some (i.e. the earliest) are certainly by John Horsburgh.  He may have painted them all, or perhaps his son painted some of them.

Signature

All are signed similarly.  e.g. 'HORSBURGH EDIN 1862'.
Sometimes 'HORSBURGH' is written 'Horsburgh'.
Sometimes 'EDIN' is written 'EDIN^R' or 'Edin'.

Is there a clue from the signature, or from the paintings themselves, to indicate whether each of the painting is the work of John Horsburgh (1835-1924) or of his son, John A Horsburgh (b.1862)?

Comments Please

Please e-mail me if you have any views on whether individual paintings might have been painted by John Horsburgh or by his son, John A Horsburgh.

I know that several people who have sent copies of their photos to me would be keen to know this.  They would also be interested to hear opinions on the values of their paintings.

Thank you.

- Peter Stubbs:  December 3, 2007