John Henry Lorimer

Who was John Henry Lorimer?

John Henry Lorimer was a Scottish painter who worked on portraits and genre scenes of everyday life.

Lorimer was born in Edinburgh, the son of James Lorimer, who was Regius Professor of Public Law at Edinburgh University from 1862 to 1890. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy, Edinburgh University and in 1875 at the Royal Scottish Academy, being taught by McTaggart and Chalmers. This was followed by a period spent in Paris studying with Carolus-Duran. His younger brother was the renowned architect Robert Lorimer.

Lorimer travelled throughout Spain, Italy and Algiers between 1877 and 1891. He exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy from 1873 and at the Royal Academy from 1878. Significant amongst his works are The Ordination of Elders in a Scottish Kirk, which hangs in the National Gallery of Scotland, A Peaceful Art and Kellie Castle Garden, which was sold at auction in 2000 for £32,900.

In 1878 the Lorimer family acquired the lease of Kellie Castle in Fife and began its restoration for use as a holiday home. This later became the permanent family home, after purchase in 1948 by Robert Lorimer's son, the sculptor Hew Lorimer.