Sir David Wilkie, 1785 - 1841

Sir David Wilkie, 1785 - 1841

Wilkie was born in the village of Pitlessie in the parish of Cults, Fife.
Here, he gazes straight out at the viewer, just as he would into the mirror to paint this striking self-portrait, made when he was twenty.
He had by this time demonstrated his remarkable ability to portray contemporary events and with this work confirmed his skills as an accomplished portrait painter. Wilkie grips a portfolio in one hand and his pencil holder in the other. His fashionably tousled reddish hair and brown jacket stand out subtly from the similarly toned background. He may have painted the work just before his move from Edinburgh to London in 1805.

Title: Sir David Wilkie, 1785 - 1841.
Artist (Self-portrait)
Accession number: PG 573
Artist:Sir David WilkieScottish (1785 - 1841)
Depicted:Sir David Wilkie
Gallery:Scottish National Portrait Gallery(On Display)
Object type:Painting
Subject:Self-portrait
Materials:
Oil on canvas
Date created: About 1804 - 1805
Measurements: 76.50 x 63.50 cm (framed: 94.00 x 81.80 x 8.50 cm)
Credit line: Presented by J. Rankin 1898
Photographer: Antonia Reeve

Location : National Galleries Scotland