Sir DAVID WILKIE

b. 1785, Fife, Scotland. 

 d. 1841. 

Sir David Wilkie was known for painting, particularly genre scenes, ranging from portraits, including ones for the royal family, travel scenes from his journeys to Europe and the Middle East, and historical scenes. He was known by some as the “people’s painter”. 

 After training in Edinburgh, Wilkie moved to London in 1805, studying at the Royal Academy Schools. His painting named “Village Politicians” was very popular among the patrons at the Royal Academy exhibition of 1806 and is one of the reasons he gained traction in becoming on the leading figures of his profession at such a young age. In 1809 he was elected to be an associate of the Royal Academy and in 1811 he became an Academician at only age 25.

Viewers loved his style of including lively and humorous incidents in his paintings. His style changed radically due to the influence of Renaissance and Baroque works, and this was said to be regretted by many of his cohort. 

He travelled to the Holy Land to collect research for biblical paintings he was planning to do but died at sea from illness, on his return home.