artnet
William Simson (1798/99 – 29 August 1847) was a Scottish portrait, landscape and subject painter. Born in Dundee, he studied under Andrew Wilson at the Trustees’ Academy in Edinburgh, and early in his career focused on landscapes and seascapes.[1]
Simson was very much influenced by his fellow Scottish painter David Wilkie, and in 1834–35 followed in Wilkie’s footsteps by imitating his Italian journey. Encouraged by Wilkie, Simson moved to London in 1838, where he concentrated on history paintings. But they did not meet with critical success, as according to his biographer, “Simson did not have the ability to paint interesting and lively historical scenes”.[2]
After 1830 Simson’s best work is probably to be found in his depictions of hunting scenes.[2]
