Robert burns

Print of Robert Burns after Nasmyth. The short text removed from the previous backpaper gives a history of Burns and advertises the issue of this portrait in 1896. Digital Number: BHBN134n (Copyright) We're happy for you to share this digital image within the spirit of the Attribution licence. Please cite ‘Dumfries & Galloway Museums’ when reusing. Certain restrictions on high quality reproductions and commercial use of the original physical version apply though; if you're unsure please…

Robert Burns : 1759-1796

An brief reflective moment in the middle of Robert Burns' riotous poem, Tam O'Shanter.

An Ayrshire town is celebrating the first book of poems from Scotland's national bard.

How much do you know about the poet?

2 p.l., [iii]-xxxii, [3]-642 p. 18 cm

“On this day in 1796: Robert Burns died in Dumfries at the young age of 37. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland. His poem (and song) "Auld Lang Syne" is sung at Hogmanay and "Scots Wha Hae" served for a long time as an unofficial national anthem of Scotland.”

Nasmyth painted this long after his friend's death, basing the image on his well-known head and shoulders portrait of Burns. In this idealised scene he has placed the poet in front of the Auld Brig o' Doon at Alloway in Ayrshire, close to where Burns grew up. In Burns's poem 'Tam o' Shanter' of 1790, Tam's brave grey mare Maggie must reach this bridge and cross the running stream to evade the witches and warlocks pursuing her drunken master. It is said that Nasmyth conceived of this…

From haggis-laced cocktails and a curling competition to creamy cullen skink and a banging boat party, we round up the best Burns Night events in London and Edinburgh.