Sir David Wilkie

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A scion of the clergy, Sir David Wilkie (1785-1841) devoted his early years to capturing the likenesses of the local aristocracy and chronicling village life in his native Fife. In 1805, he relocated to London, swiftly establishing himself as one of Regency Britain's most dazzling and forward-thinking artists. Wilkie's creations were met with immense acclaim; through their expression, gesture, and minute detail, they significantly impacted the evolution of Victorian genre painting. Joseph's posthumous bust portrays the artist in his youth; the faintly parted lips and far-off gaze imbue the portrait with an idealized quality. Joseph resided in Edinburgh between 1821 and 1829. He was a founding member of the Royal Scottish Academy; several of the RSA's initial gatherings took place within Joseph's Edinburgh studio situated on Windsor Street.