Sir David Wilkie

1785–1841

Sir David Wilkie, ‘The Blind Fiddler’ 1806
The Blind Fiddler 1806
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Biography

Sir David Wilkie (18 November 1785 – 1 June 1841) was a British painter, especially known for his genre scenes. He painted successfully in a wide variety of genres, including historical scenes, portraits, including formal royal ones, and scenes from his travels to Europe and the Middle East. His main base was in London, but he died and was buried at sea, off Gibraltar, returning from his first trip to the Middle East. He was sometimes known as the "people's painter".

He was Principal Painter in Ordinary to King William IV and Queen Victoria. Apart from royal portraits, his best-known painting today is probably The Chelsea Pensioners reading the Waterloo Dispatch of 1822 in Apsley House.

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Orientalism Victorian / Genre

Artworks

Sir David Wilkie, ‘The Blind Fiddler’ 1806

Sir David Wilkie The Blind Fiddler

1806
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N00099
Sir David Wilkie, ‘The Village Holiday’ 1809–11

Sir David Wilkie The Village Holiday

1809–11
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N00122
Sir David Wilkie, ‘His Highness Muhemed Ali, Pacha of Egypt’ 1841

Sir David Wilkie His Highness Muhemed Ali, Pacha of Egypt

1841
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N04276
Sir David Wilkie, ‘The Peep-o’-Day Boys’ Cabin, in the West of Ireland’ 1835–6, exhibited 1836

Sir David Wilkie The Peep-o’-Day Boys’ Cabin, in the West of Ireland

1835–6, exhibited 1836
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N00332
Sir David Wilkie, ‘Mrs Elizabeth Young in Eastern Costume’ 1841

Sir David Wilkie Mrs Elizabeth Young in Eastern Costume

1841
N01727
Sir David Wilkie, ‘The Preaching of Knox before the Lords of the Congregation, 10th June 1559’ 1832

Sir David Wilkie The Preaching of Knox before the Lords of the Congregation, 10th June 1559

1832
N00894

Sir David Wilkie The Lost Receipt

date not known
View by appointment A01179
Sir David Wilkie, ‘The Flemish Mother’ 1820

Sir David Wilkie The Flemish Mother

1820
View by appointment A01187
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Features

Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘The Decline of the Carthaginian Empire ...’ exhibited 1817
Art Term

Genres

Genres are types of painting. These were codified in the seventeenth century as (in descending order of importance) history, portrait ...

Robert Braithwaite Martineau, ‘The Last Day in the Old Home’ 1862
Art Term

Genre painting

The term genre painting refers to paintings which depict scenes of everyday life

Giovanni Battista Lusieri Extensive Landscape on a Road Above the Tiber Valley, North of Rome 1781
Tate Papers

The Roman Campagna Revisited: Art & Environment

Richard Wrigley

Richard Wrigley reconnects the Roman campagna – a landscape endowed with considerable artistic significance – with its troubled history as an all ...

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