Brief Biography-Richard Wilson, the son of a clergyman, was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales. At fifteen, he studied under a portraitist named Thomas Wright in London and became a leading portraitist for several years.
In 1750, he went to Italy and spent most of his time in Rome, where he continued painting portraits and landscapes. In Venice, the artist Francesco Zuccarélli on seeing a sketch by Wilson, persuaded him to pursue landscapes. Claude Vernet was another artist who encouraged his landscapes. Wilson visited other Italian cities and was chiefly impressed by the works of Claude Lorrain. His time in Italy proved very successful, and he accumulated many patrons on their grand tours.
When he returned to England in 1757, he set up a studio in Covent Garden with students and apprentices. He mostly painted landscapes in the Italianate manner. In 1768, he was a founding member of the Royal Academy and, in 1776, held the post of librarian until he retired due to ill health. However, his success lasted only for a short period in England. Due to heavy drinking, he fell out with patrons and his contemporaries, including Johann Zoffany, over a painting of him with a beer glass. His most famous tiff was with Lord Bute, who refused the asking price of a picture for the King; he replied that he could pay in instalments if the King wished.
Wilson spent his last years in Llanberis, Wales. His work inspired many of the later landscape artists.