Painter and Limner

The Painter and Limner is a member of the Royal Household in Scotland. Appointments of Court Painters are recorded from 1581 onwards, and the post of Painter and Limner was created in 1702 for George Ogilvie. The duties included "drawing pictures of our person or of our successors or others of our royal family for the decorment of our houses and palaces". From 1723 to 1823 the office was a sinecure held by members of the Abercrombie family, not necessarily connected with artistic ability. The appointment of Sir Henry Raeburn in 1823, a few months before his death marked a return to conferring the post on a distinguished Scottish artist. He was succeeded by David Wilkie.

Office Holders

Holders of the office since 1823 are:

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• Henry Raeburn: 9 May 1823 - 8 July 1823
• David Wilkie: 16 July 1823 - 1 June 1841
• William Allan: 19 July 1841 - 23 February 1850
• Sir John Watson Gordon: 23 March 1850 - 1 June 1864
• Sir Joseph Noel Paton: 8 July 1864 - 26 December 1901

Office vacant 1901-1908

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• Robert Gibb: 25 June 1908 - 11 February 1932
• Sir David Young Cameron: 16 June 1933 - 16 September 1945

Office vacant 1945 -1948

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• Stanley Cursiter: 2 August 1948 - 22 April 1976
• David Abercrombie Donaldson: 12 October 1977 - death
• Dame Elizabeth Blackadder: 2001-