Focus on The Skating Minister and explore the Attribution controversy.
In March 2005, a curator from the Scottish National Portrait Gallery suggested that the painting was by French artist Henri-Pierre Danloux rather than by Henry Raeburn. Once this information had been brought to the attention of the Gallery, the label on the painting was altered to read “Recent research has suggested that the picture was actually painted [...] by Henri-Pierre Danloux.” Since this time, many people have debated this idea. It has been argued that Danloux was in Edinburgh during the 1790s, which happens to be the time period when The Skating Minister was created. Supposedly the canvas and scale of the painting appear to be those of a French painter, although Raeburn critics argue otherwise.Despite continuing controversy about its attribution, The Skating Minister was sent to New York City in 2005 to be exhibited in Christie's for Tartan Day, an important Scottish celebration. James Holloway, director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery,  told The Scotsman newspaper that his "gut reaction" was that it is by Raeburn.  The newspaper reported that "it is understood that Sir Timothy Clifford, director-general of the National Galleries of Scotland, now accepts the painting is a Raeburn."
Tartan Day The Scotsman Sir Timothy Clifford Henri-Pierre Danloux Christie's Henry Raeburn Edinburgh Timothy Clifford Scottish National Portrait Gallery