Family History

       


 






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The Archers
Oil on canvas, 110.5 x 123.6 cm, by
Sir Henry Raeburn, c. 1789-90
The National Gallery, London
 

This portrait captures the Ferguson brothers, Robert and Ronald, as young men during a time when archery was regaining popularity among the elite. The composition is carefully structured, with Robert positioned brightly in profile on the left and Ronald recessed in darkness, his gaze steady and framed by the curve of a bow. The linear arrangement and balance of forms recall classical relief sculpture, reflecting Enlightenment Scotland’s fascination with antiquity..