Wilson, RICHARD

Wilson, RICHARD, landscape-painter, was born at Penegoes rectory, Montgomeryshire, 1st August 1714. After studying under a London portrait-painter (1729-35), he took to portrait-painting on his own account, but during a six years' visit to Italy (1749-56) was advised to forsake portrait for landscape. To landscape-painting he now exclusively devoted himself; and before returning to England he had succeeded at Rome in establishing a considerable reputation. In London in 1760 he exhibited his great picture, the 'Niobe,' and at once secured rank as one of the first painters of his time. Another celebrated work was his 'View of Rome from the Villa Madama.' Failing, however, to hit the general taste, he fell into the hands of the picture-dealers; and so straitened did he frequently find himself that in 1776 he was glad to obtain the appointment of Librarian of the Royal Academy. By the death of a brother he came into a small estate at Llanferris in Denbighshire, and retiring there died some few years after in 1782. Of his numerous pictures, now much prized, many were engraved by Woollett and others; the National Gallery contains nine specimens of his work.