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Sir Henry Raeburn (Scottish, 1756–1823). Reverend Dr Robert Walker (1755–1808) Skating on Duddingston Loch. Circa 1795. Oil on canvas. National Galleries of Scotland. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

A prodigious portrait painter, Raeburn is known for his bold—but static—images of Scottish aristocracy in late 18th and early 19th centuries. This painting, sometimes called “The Skating Minister,” was a departure. Right leg extended behind him after pushing off to generate forward motion, Walker skates on a left outside edge, causing him to curve to the left. His solitary glide across the ice seems a whimsy, an athletic feat, and a meditation all at once.

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