Andrew Wilson (artist)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Wilson was a Scottish landscape-painter.
, he came of an old Jacobite
family. His father was Archibald Wilson, and his mother Elizabeth Shields. When quite young he began to study art under Alexander Nasmyth
, and then, at the age of seventeen, went to London, where he worked for some time in the schools of the Royal Academy
. He went to Italy, studied the masters, and became acquainted with the collectors Champernown and Irving. He also made many sketches, principally of the architecture in the neighbourhood of Rome and Naples.
Returning to London in 1803, he saw the advantage of importing pictures by the old masters, and went back to Italy. Europe was at war again, but he reached Genoa
, where he settled under the protection of the American consul and was elected a member of the Ligurian Academy. As a member of that society he was present when Napoleon Bonaparte visited its exhibition, and on some envious academician informing the latter, who had paused to admire Wilson's picture, that it was by an Englishman, he was met by the retort: ‘Le talent n'a pas de pays.’ In 1805 he returned through Germany to London with the pictures (over fifty in number) which he had acquired. Among them were Rubens
's Brazen Serpent (now in the National Gallery of London) and Jacopo Bassano
's Adoration of the Magi (in the National Gallery of Scotland
).
Settling in London, he painted a good deal in watercolour, was one of the original members of the Associated Artists (1808), and held for a period the position of teacher of drawing in Sandhurst Military College. Appointed in 1818 master of the Trustees' Academy, he moved to Edinburgh, where his pupils included Robert Scott Lauder
, William Simson
, and David Octavius Hill
. While in London he had contributed to the Royal Academy
, and in Edinburgh he supported the Royal Institution
, of which he was the manager as well as an artist associate member.
In 1826, taking his wife and family with him, he again went south, and for the twenty years following lived in Rome, Florence, and Genoa. During this period he was consulted on art matters, collected pictures for Lord Hopetoun, Lord Pembroke
, Sir Robert Peel, and others, and was instrumental in securing for the Royal Institution some of the works which later helped to form the National Gallery of Scotland
. He also painted much in both oil and watercolours.
In 1847, leaving his family in Italy, he revisited Scotland, but, on the eve of returning, he died in Edinburgh on 27 November 1848.
Life
Born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, he came of an old Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
family. His father was Archibald Wilson, and his mother Elizabeth Shields. When quite young he began to study art under Alexander Nasmyth
Alexander Nasmyth
Alexander Nasmyth was a Scottish portrait and landscape painter, often called the "father of Scottish landscape painting".-Biography:...
, and then, at the age of seventeen, went to London, where he worked for some time in the schools of the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
. He went to Italy, studied the masters, and became acquainted with the collectors Champernown and Irving. He also made many sketches, principally of the architecture in the neighbourhood of Rome and Naples.
Returning to London in 1803, he saw the advantage of importing pictures by the old masters, and went back to Italy. Europe was at war again, but he reached Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, where he settled under the protection of the American consul and was elected a member of the Ligurian Academy. As a member of that society he was present when Napoleon Bonaparte visited its exhibition, and on some envious academician informing the latter, who had paused to admire Wilson's picture, that it was by an Englishman, he was met by the retort: ‘Le talent n'a pas de pays.’ In 1805 he returned through Germany to London with the pictures (over fifty in number) which he had acquired. Among them were Rubens
Rubens
Rubens is often used to refer to Peter Paul Rubens , the Flemish artist.Rubens may also refer to:- People :Family name* Paul Rubens Rubens is often used to refer to Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), the Flemish artist.Rubens may also refer to:- People :Family name* Paul Rubens (composer) Rubens is...
's Brazen Serpent (now in the National Gallery of London) and Jacopo Bassano
Jacopo Bassano
Jacopo Bassano , known also as Jacopo dal Ponte, was an Italian painter who was born and died in Bassano del Grappa near Venice, from which he adopted the name.- Life :...
's Adoration of the Magi (in the National Gallery of Scotland
National Gallery of Scotland
The National Gallery of Scotland, in Edinburgh, is the national art gallery of Scotland. An elaborate neoclassical edifice, it stands on The Mound, between the two sections of Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens...
).
Settling in London, he painted a good deal in watercolour, was one of the original members of the Associated Artists (1808), and held for a period the position of teacher of drawing in Sandhurst Military College. Appointed in 1818 master of the Trustees' Academy, he moved to Edinburgh, where his pupils included Robert Scott Lauder
Robert Scott Lauder
Robert Scott Lauder was a Scottish mid-Victorian artist who described himself as a "historical painter". He was one of the original members of the Royal Scottish Academy.-Life and work:...
, William Simson
William Simson
William Simson was a Scottish portrait, landscape and subject painter.-Biography:Simson was born at Dundee in 1800. He studied under Andrew Wilson at the Trustees' Academy in Edinburgh, and his early pictures of landscape and marine subjects found quick sales...
, and David Octavius Hill
David Octavius Hill
The Scottish painter and arts activist David Octavius Hill collaborated with the engineer and photographer Robert Adamson between 1843 and 1847 to pioneer many aspects of photography in Scotland.-Early life:...
. While in London he had contributed to the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
, and in Edinburgh he supported the Royal Institution
Royal Institution
The Royal Institution of Great Britain is an organization devoted to scientific education and research, based in London.-Overview:...
, of which he was the manager as well as an artist associate member.
In 1826, taking his wife and family with him, he again went south, and for the twenty years following lived in Rome, Florence, and Genoa. During this period he was consulted on art matters, collected pictures for Lord Hopetoun, Lord Pembroke
Robert Herbert, 12th Earl of Pembroke
Robert Henry Herbert, 12th Earl of Pembroke and 9th Earl of Montgomery was a British nobleman in line for great estates and position as head of the distinguished Herbert family and heir to the earldom of Pembroke, but lived an irregular life in exile after a dissolute youth.-Early years:Herbert...
, Sir Robert Peel, and others, and was instrumental in securing for the Royal Institution some of the works which later helped to form the National Gallery of Scotland
National Gallery of Scotland
The National Gallery of Scotland, in Edinburgh, is the national art gallery of Scotland. An elaborate neoclassical edifice, it stands on The Mound, between the two sections of Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens...
. He also painted much in both oil and watercolours.
In 1847, leaving his family in Italy, he revisited Scotland, but, on the eve of returning, he died in Edinburgh on 27 November 1848.