William Gibb (1839–1929) was a 19th/20th century Scottish landscape artist, book illustrator and lithographer. He was elder brother to the artist

Robert Gibb Robert Gibb RSA (28 October 1845 – 11 February 1932) was a Scottish painter who was Keeper of the National Gallery of Scotland from 1895 to 1907 and was Painter and Limner to the King from 1908 until his death. He built his reputation on ...

Life

He was born on 13 February 1839 in a cottage on James Street in Laurieston near

Falkirk Falkirk ( gd, An Eaglais Bhreac, sco, Fawkirk) is a large town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland, historically within the county of Stirlingshire. It lies in the Forth Valley, northwest of Edinburgh and northeast of Glasgow. Falkirk had a ...

, south-east of Stirling in central Scotland, the son of Alexander Gibb, a builder. and his wife, Christian Morrison. The family moved to

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

around 1844, living at 28 Greenside Street. In 1855 they moved to an impressive Georgian townhouse: 5 Regent Terrace on Calton Hill. Showing an artistic talent he was sent to train under Robert Scott Lauder. He was then sent to

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

to learn

lithography Lithography () is a planographic method of printing originally based on the immiscibility of oil and water. The printing is from a stone (lithographic limestone) or a metal plate with a smooth surface. It was invented in 1796 by the German a ...

with "Day & Son". In London he met John Phillip who helped develop his style. However, Gibb lacked confidence in his own skills and remained firmly of the belief that he should only pursue commissioned works, rather than risk speculative work. These commissions often linked to entire series to illustrate a reference book. His clients included Sir David Cameron and Sir John Reid. He specialised in creating lithographs of whole collections of relics, artefacts etc. and was in demand as an accurate draughtsman. His works are found in most British galleries and museums and in the homes of many of the landed gentry. He died on 12 June 1929.Grave of William Gibb, Warriston Cemetery He is buried in

Warriston Cemetery Warriston Cemetery is a cemetery in Edinburgh. It lies in Warriston, one of the northern suburbs of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was built by the then newly-formed Edinburgh Cemetery Company, and occupies around of land on a slightly sloping si ...

in north Edinburgh, slightly to the east of his mentor Robert Scott Lauder off the westmost path. Having no other family the grave was presumably purchased (and stone erected) by his brother,

, who died three years later.

Family

Gibb is thought to have been unmarried.

Notable series

*The Abbotsford Relics of

Sir Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet, playwright and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European and Scottish literature, notably the novels '' Ivanhoe'', '' Rob Roy' ...

*The Relics of the Royal House of Stuart *Musical Instruments - Historic, Rare and Unique *Naval and Military Trophies and Personal Relics of British Heroes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibb, William 1839 births 1929 deaths Scottish artists Lithographers