Henry Raeburn's painting of his friend the Reverend Robert Walker skating on a hard winter's day more than two centuries ago is one of a select number of paintings that are immediately recognisable. It is also one of the best-loved paintings in the Scottish national collection. But who was 'the skating minister' and why did Scotland's premier portrait painter portray him in such an extraordinary way? This book explores the relationship between artist and sitter, the time they lived in, the many famous people they knew, and the reasons why this intimate portrait has acquired such iconic status.