the collector's folio

Robert Herdman Most Popular Paintings

The 25 artworks by Robert Herdman our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 25 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide Robert Herdman · 1829 – 1888

John Campbell Shairp (1819–1885), LLD – Robert Herdman

1886 · original 140 x 104 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #1: John Campbell Shairp (1819–1885), LLD

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18127 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$591104 × 140 cm Commission at original size

The young seamstress, 1860, Robert Herdman

1860 · original 45.5 x 35.5cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #2: The young seamstress

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18128 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$20036 × 46 cm Commission at original size

The Arrochar Gleaner by Robert Herdman, 1862

1862 · original 51 x 61 cm

Discover 'The Arrochar Gleaner' by Robert Herdman (1862). A Romantic oil painting of a young girl amidst wheat, showcasing Victorian realism & pastoral beauty. Explore this evocative piece!

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #3: The Arrochar Gleaner

Art Movement: Romanticism
Color Palette: Dark

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18135 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$24661 × 51 cm Commission at original size

Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881), Historian and Essayist by Robert Herdman, 1875

1875 · Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh · original 75 x 63 cm

Explore Robert Inerarity Herdman’s 1875 portrait of Thomas Carlyle – a somber, realistic study in chiaroscuro & impasto. Capturing wisdom & age, this Victorian masterpiece embodies Romantic intensity.

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #4: Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881), Historian and Essayist

Art Movement: Romanticism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18128 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$29563 × 75 cm Commission at original size

John Tulloch (1823–1886) (1880) by Robert Herdman

1880 · original 241 x 151 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #5: John Tulloch (1823–1886)

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18125 × 40 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1242151 × 241 cm Commission at original size

Reverend John Tulloch (1823–1886), Theologian and Principal of St Andrews University by Robert Herdman, 1880

1880 · Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh · original 138 x 112 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #6: Reverend John Tulloch (1823–1886), Theologian and Principal of St Andrews University

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18128 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$618112 × 138 cm Commission at original size

Morning, Robert Herdman

1861 · original 31 x 23 cm

Admire Robert Inerarity Herdman’s "Morning" (1861) – a serene oil painting of a child in a picturesque landscape. Explore its intricate details & Romantic style at the Glasgow Museums.

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #7: Morning

Art Movement: Romanticism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18127 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

The Time of Primroses (1854) by Robert Herdman

1854 · original 71 x 61 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #8: The Time of Primroses

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18129 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$28361 × 71 cm Commission at original size

Robert Herdman: Bonny Bell

1859 · original 97 x 79 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #9: Bonny Bell

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18128 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$38479 × 97 cm Commission at original size

Robert Herdman, The Gleaner (1863)

1863 · original 32 x 29 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #10: The Gleaner

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18127 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Evening by Robert Herdman, 1862

1862 · original 31 x 23 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #11: Evening

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18127 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

'Who still in dreams can hear the heavenly harps' – Robert Herdman

1862 · original 32 x 32 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #12: 'Who still in dreams can hear the heavenly harps'

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18131 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$18232 × 32 cm Commission at original size

Robert Herdman: Fern Gatherer

1866 · original 25 x 17 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #13: Fern Gatherer

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18126 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

After the Battle, 1870, Robert Herdman

1870 · Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh · original 116 x 173 cm

Explore 'After the Battle' by Robert Inerarity Herdman – a poignant 1870 oil painting depicting Scottish mourning & loss in Romantic style. Discover its rich details & historical significance.

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #14: After the Battle

Art Movement: Romanticism
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18139 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$756173 × 116 cm Commission at original size

Sir Joseph Noel Paton (1821–1901), 1870, Robert Herdman

1870 · original 109 x 85 cm

Explore Sir Joseph Noel Paton’s 1870 portrait! A classical oil painting showcasing a dignified elder in dramatic lighting & rich detail. Discover Victorian art & Celtic influences.

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #15: Sir Joseph Noel Paton (1821–1901)

Art Movement: Pre-Raphaelite

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18128 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$43285 × 109 cm Commission at original size

Aeneas Ranald McDonell (1820–1897)

1868 · original 243 x 149 cm

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18125 × 41 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1237149 × 243 cm Commission at original size

Robert Herdman, David Octavius Hill (1802–1870), RSA (1870)

1870 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture, Edinburgh · original 87 x 72 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #17: David Octavius Hill (1802–1870), RSA

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18129 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$34172 × 87 cm Commission at original size

Robert Herdman, A Fountain Group, South Italy (1868)

1868 · original 31 x 27 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #18: A Fountain Group, South Italy

Color Palette: Dark

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18128 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Mary, Queen of Scots The Farewell to France by Robert Herdman

1867 · original 92 x 71 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #19: Mary, Queen of Scots The Farewell to France

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18128 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$34971 × 92 cm Commission at original size

Emily Merelina Meymott (1830–1911), Baroness Shand (1867) by Robert Herdman

1867 · Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh · original 222 x 147 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #20: Emily Merelina Meymott (1830–1911), Baroness Shand

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18126 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1130147 × 222 cm Commission at original size

Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, Robert Herdman

1867 · original 75 x 95 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #21: Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 21 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18136 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$36795 × 75 cm Commission at original size

Robert Herdman: Evening Thoughts

1864 · Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh · original 61 x 46 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #22: Evening Thoughts

Color Palette: Dark

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 22 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18127 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$23646 × 61 cm Commission at original size

Robert Herdman, La culla – Study in Italy (1864)

1864 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture, Edinburgh · original 92 x 72 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #23: La culla – Study in Italy

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 23 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18129 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$35272 × 92 cm Commission at original size

Charles Shaw Lefevre (1794–1888), 1st Viscount Eversley, in the Uniform of the Hampshire Carabiniers (1875) by Robert Herdman

1875 · original 126 x 100 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #24: Charles Shaw Lefevre (1794–1888), 1st Viscount Eversley, in the Uniform of the Hampshire Carabiniers

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 24 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18127 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$532100 × 126 cm Commission at original size

Sir James Falshaw (1810–1889), Bt, Lord Provost of Edinburgh (1874–1877) – Robert Herdman

1877 · original 239 x 152 cm

View the most popular artwork of Robert Herdman ranked #25: Sir James Falshaw (1810–1889), Bt, Lord Provost of Edinburgh (1874–1877)

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 25 of 52 artworks by Robert Herdman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18125 × 40 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1240152 × 239 cm Commission at original size

The artist

Robert Herdman

1829 – 1888

Quick facts

Typical colorsphthalo green
Topics exploredvictorian era
Born1829, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Lifespan59 years
Copyright statusPublic domain
Also known asRobert Inerarity Herdman
Movementsromanticism
Color intensitymonochromatic, balanced

Biography

A Victorian Visionary: The Life and Legacy of Robert Inerarity Herdman

Robert Inerarity Herdman (1829–1888) stands as a luminous figure within the landscape of nineteenth-century Scottish art, a painter whose brush captured not merely the physical likeness of his subjects but the very soul of the Celtic Revival. Born in the quiet beauty of Rattray, near Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Herdman’s early life was marked by a profound intellectual depth. Though he initially turned his studies toward theology at St Andrews University, the calling of the canvas proved irresistible. This transition from the spiritual study of divinity to the visual exploration of light and form would define his career, allowing him to infuse his later works with a sense of sacredness and mythic resonance that few of his contemporaries could replicate. By 1847, Herdman had migrated to Edinburgh, seeking the mentorship of the era's most distinguished masters, Robert Scott Lauder and John Ballantyne. Under their rigorous tutelage, he developed a meticulous technique characterized by an extraordinary command over oil painting. His training was not merely technical but deeply philosophical; through his friendship with Professor John Stuart Blackie, Herdman became intimately acquainted with the richness of Celtic mythology and folklore. This influence acted as a guiding star for his artistic development, steering him away from mere academic realism toward a more evocative, narrative style that celebrated the pastoral beauty and spiritual heritage of Scotland.

Mastery of Portraiture and the Pastoral Ideal

Herdman’s professional ascent was marked by significant institutional recognition, including his election as an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1861 and his subsequent elevation to Fellow in 1863. His reputation as a premier portraitist was solidified through prestigious commissions from various Scottish city councils, where he captured the dignity, character, and gravitas of the nation's most prominent figures. In these works, one observes a masterful use of chiaroscuro, where light and shadow dance across the features of his subjects to reveal layers of psychological depth. His portrait of Thomas Carlyle in 1875 remains a hauntingly beautiful study, utilizing heavy impasto and somber tones to embody the intellectual intensity of the great historian. Yet, while his portraits commanded respect in the halls of power, it is perhaps his more intimate, idyllic scenes that have secured his place in the hearts of art lovers. Herdman possessed a unique ability to weave storytelling into the landscape, most notably through his celebrated series of paintings featuring young girls amidst picturesque, folkloric settings. In works such as "Morning", created in 1861, he presents a serene world where a child in a blue hat holds a musical instrument against a backdrop of tranquil mountains and water. These compositions are more than mere depictions of childhood; they are windows into a romanticized, pastoral Eden, reflecting a deep-seated nostalgia for a vanishing way of life.

Historical Significance and Artistic Endurance

The breadth of Herdman’s impact is evidenced by the enduring presence of his work in some of the world's most esteemed collections. From the National Portrait Gallery in London to the Royal Scottish Academy, his canvases continue to serve as vital touchstones for understanding the Victorian era's aesthetic and cultural shifts. His ability to bridge the gap between formal, high-society portraiture and the emotive, myth-driven landscapes of the Celtic movement allowed him to speak to a wide audience, from the political elite to the romantic dreamer. As we reflect on his life, several key elements define his enduring historical importance:

The Synthesis of Traditions: His unique ability to blend the rigorous academic training of Edinburgh with the burgeoning spirit of the Celtic Revival.
Narrative Depth: The use of landscape not just as a setting, but as a vessel for folklore, emotion, and spiritual contemplation.
Technical Versatility: A mastery that spanned from the somber, realistic studies of historical figures to the bright, delicate textures of his pastoral scenes.

Though he passed away in 1888, the vision of Robert Inerarity Herdman remains undimmed. His work continues to resonate as a testament to a period when art sought to reconcile the burgeoning modern world with the ancient, enchanting echoes of the Scottish past.

Questions & Answers

Where can I see the color profile of Robert Herdman's work?

The Palette Genome of Robert Herdman is a page that presents the color profile of the artist's body of work.

Can I explore Robert Herdman's works by subject?

The Subject Atlas of Robert Herdman is a page that maps the artist's artworks by their subjects.

Where are Robert Herdman's artworks grouped by art movement?

Robert Herdman's works can be browsed by movement on the artist's All Movements page.

By the WahooArt.com Editorial Team Updated Sept. 17, 2026

Collector's quiz

Robert Herdman was born in which Scottish location?
Herdman initially studied what subject at the University of St Andrews?
Which Scottish city councils commissioned Herdman's artwork extensively?
Herdman was elected a Fellow of the Royal Scottish Academy in what year?
Herdman exhibited his paintings at which prestigious London institutions?

one You choose the size

Standard formats or any custom dimension, matched to the proportions of the original.

two We paint and send a preview

A photo of the finished canvas for your approval before it is shipped.

three Delivered, certified

Rolled, stretched or framed, insured, with a certificate of authenticity.

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Every artwork by Robert Herdman in our catalog can be painted to order, in the size that suits the room.

All artworks by Robert Herdman