Douglas, SIR WILLIAM FETTES, P.R.S.A.

Douglas, SIR WILLIAM FETTES, P.R.S.A., was born at Edinburgh, 29th March 1822. He studied in the university there, and was for several years engaged in business. As a painter he was mainly self-taught, though he attended the Trustees' Academy for a short time. On first devoting himself to art he practised chiefly as a landscape-painter, but he soon turned to figure-subjects, producing 'Hudibras and Ralph visiting the Astrologer' (1856), 'Lovel and the Anti-quary' (1857), 'The Summons to the Secret Tribunal' (1860), and 'The Magic Mirror' (1872), works distinguished by excellent colouring, and by especially firm, careful, and refined handling. His later years were entirely devoted to landscape water-colours. He was elected A.R.S.A. in 1851, R.S.A. in 1854, and P.R.S.A. in 1882; and he is represented in the National Gallery of Scotland by 'The Messenger of Evil Tidings,' 'The Spell,' and 'The Bibliophilist—David Laing, LL.D.' See Photogravures from the Works of Sir W. F. Douglas, with Critical Sketch, by J. M. Gray (1885). He died 20th July 1891.