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William John Thomson (1771–1845) was an American-born painter of silhouettes, portraits and miniatures who was active in Great Britain.
File:Sir Walter Scott miniature by W J Thomson circa late 1832.jpg, Sir Walter Scott memorial locket. A private commission 1832.
File:Elizabeth Gaskell 1832.jpg, Elizabeth Gaskell in Edinburgh June 1832.
File:Musidora circa 1836.jpg, Musidora Circa 1836. Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture.
File:Mrs H J Thomson and her son.jpg, Mrs H J Thomson and her son James born 8 Mar 1798. Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture.
File:William John Thomson - Portrait of an English officer - S 173 - Finnish National Gallery.jpg, Portrait of an English officer - Finnish National Gallery
Profiles of the Past: William John Thomson
Art UK: William John Thomson
Philip Mould Historical Portraits Image Library
Ellison Fine Art: fine portrait miniature specialist
Genealogy of W J Thomson
see p.10. {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomson, William John 1771 births 1845 deaths 19th-century Scottish painters Scottish portrait painters Portrait miniaturists
William John Thomson (1771–1845) was an American-born painter of silhouettes, portraits and miniatures who was active in Great Britain.
Early life
Thomson was born in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, on 3 October 1771 to Scottish parents, Alexander Thomson and Mary Elizabeth Thomson née Spencer. Thomson's first sister Margaret was born in 1773, his second sister born in 1775 was Catherine Thomson, later the stepmother of Elizabeth Gaskell. They migrated to England during the war of independence. His younger brother born in Edinburgh in 1778 was Anthony Todd Thomson the doctor who had delivered Gaskell. He moved to London and learned to paint. He exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1795. He married Helen J Colhoun in Edinburgh 12 May 1797, He was considered for election to the Royal Academy in 1808 In 1812 he moved back to his ancestral home of Scotland and settled in Edinburgh. About 1817 he marries Anne McCulloch (d.1855). The two marriages produce seven children. After marriage they lived at 20 Dundas Street in the New Town.Painting style
Thomson worked in a solemn, realistic, somewhat simplified style, devoid of the affectation that often characterised the work of his contemporaries. His subjects face slightly to the right; their features are emphatically delineated, the left eye appearing overly large. A pink tonality suffuses the paintings, reddish brown shading models the forms and brown hatching often makes up the background. Thomson was a miniaturist of very great eminence, although he sometimes exercised his talents on large portraits and small full-lengths. To accuracy of execution he added great richness of effect, preciousness of finish, and depth of tone.Latter years
He became a prominent figure in the artistic life of Scotland, holding a variety of official positions. He exhibited portraits, miniatures, landscapes and genre paintings. On the 16th July 1823 his younger brother Anthony Todd Thomson submitted a request toRobert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville
Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville (14 March 1771 – 10 June 1851) was a British statesman, the son of Henry Dundas, the 1st Viscount. Dundas was the Member of Parliament for Hastings in 1794, Rye in 1796 and Midlothian in 1801. He was als ...
that Thomson succeeds the late Sir Henry Raeburn
Sir Henry Raeburn (; 4 March 1756 – 8 July 1823) was a Scottish portrait painter. He served as Portrait Painter to King George IV in Scotland.
Biography
Raeburn was born the son of a manufacturer in Stockbridge, on the Water of Leith: a ...
as the King's Limner
A limner is an illuminator of manuscripts, or more generally, a painter of ornamental decoration. One of the earliest mentions of a limner's work is found in the book ''Methods and Materials of Painting'' by Charles Lock Eastlake (1793–1865).
...
for Scotland, (the post was given to David Wilkie ).
On 7 October 1829 he was elected academician of Royal Scottish Academy and is shown on their alphabetical list.
In 1831 as trustee to the estate of Hugh William Williams (Artist) along with Mrs Robina Williams, Aeneas MacBain WS, he organised a studio sale.
In June 1832 he painted a miniature of his step niece Elizabeth Gaskell see below. (née Stevenson) author of Cranford.
He lived at 47 Northumberland Street, Edinburgh in the 1830s until he died on 24 March 1845 He is buried at St John's Episcopal graveyard in Edinburgh. The grave lies on a south-facing wall at the west side of the lower terrace. His wife and children lie with him.
The memorial to his parents and grandparents is in Canongate Churchyard
The Canongate Kirkyard ( en, Churchyard) stands around Canongate Kirk on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland. The churchyard was used for burials from the late 1680s until the mid-20th century.
The most celebrated burials at the kirkyard are ...
.
Family
He was married to Anne McCulloch (1783-1855).Thomson grave, St John's churchyardExamples of his miniaturist and portraiture work
References
Further reading
* The Royal Scottish Academy, 1826–1916. A complete list of exhibited works. * British Miniaturists by Basil Somerset Long. 1929. * The Royal Scottish Academy exhibitors 1826–1990. A dictionary of artists.Profiles of the Past: William John Thomson
Art UK: William John Thomson
Philip Mould Historical Portraits Image Library
Ellison Fine Art: fine portrait miniature specialist
Genealogy of W J Thomson
see p.10. {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomson, William John 1771 births 1845 deaths 19th-century Scottish painters Scottish portrait painters Portrait miniaturists