Lost Robert Burns Portrait Discovered After 200 Years

While he uses the nasmyth work as his template, his Burns is younger, fresher faced and more vivacious than the original.

Zachs believes he may have met Burns – and was painting from memory as much as from the only available portrait.

With a starting price of £300-£500, he was willing to take a chance but others had the same idea, and the bids pushed the final price up to £68,000.

It was only then that Zachs could return to Scotland and begin the process of having the work cleaned and verified.

Lesley Stevenson, senior conservator of paintings at the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh, is among several experts who have since confirmed the Raeburn attribution.

“Raeburn’s expressive, seemingly effortless brushwork, the characteristic warm palette, soft atmospheric lighting and sensitive rendering of the instantly recognisable Robert Burns are a joy,” she said.

“This is a significant finding and one we can all celebrate.”

This week the painting went on public display for the first time, alongside the Nasmyth portrait which already belongs to the National Galleries of Scotland.

Director general Sir John Leighton said: “We call it the patron portrait.

“It is indeed the one that people call to mind when they think about Robert Burns as its featured in everything from shortbread tins to tea towels and key rings.

“Everything originates from that