William John Thomson

William John Thomson RSA (1771–1845) was an American-born painter of silhouettes, portraits and miniatures who was active in Great Britain.[1]

Self-portrait, Royal Scottish Academy

Early life

Thomson was born in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, on 3 October 1771[2] 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 brother born in Edinburgh in 1778 was Anthony Todd Thomson the doctor who had delivered Gaskell.[3] He moved to London and learned to paint. He exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1795.[4] He married Helen J Colhoun in Edinburgh 12 May 1797,[5] her portrait with their son held by the Royal Scottish Academy and shown in the Art UK website is shown below. He was considered for election to the Royal Academy in 1808[6] 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 six children.[7] After marriage they lived at 20 Dundas Street in the New Town.[8]

Painting style
The grave of William John Thomson, St John's Churchyard, Edinburgh

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.[9] 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.[10]

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 7 October 1829 he was elected academician of Royal Scottish Academy and is shown on their alphabetical list.[11] 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.[12] In June 1832 he painted a miniature of his step niece Elizabeth Gaskell[13] (née Stevenson) author of Cranford. He lived at 47 Northumberland Street, Edinburgh in the 1830s until he died on 24 March 1845[14] He is buried at St John's Episcopal graveyard in Edinburgh (Find a Grave.com.) 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. [15]

Examples of his miniaturist and portraiture work
  • Sir Walter Scott memorial locket. A private commission 1832.
  • Elizabeth Gaskell in Edinburgh June 1832.
  • Musidora Circa 1836. Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture.
  • Mrs H J Thomson and her son James born 8 Mar 1798. Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture.
  • Portrait of an English officer - Finnish National Gallery

Further reading

References
  1. British Miniaturists by Basil Somerset Long. 1929.
  2. Find a grave, memorial id 151509404
  3. The Oxford National Biography https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/10434. accessed 5 Nov 2018
  4. American Portrait miniatures in the Manney collection by Dale T Johnson page 213
  5. Elizabeth Gaskell: The Early Years – John Chapple page 474 para 18.
  6. British Miniaturists by Basil Somerset Long. 1929. British Library, retrieved 23 Aug 2018
  7. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Thomson-1457#Sources
  8. Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1820
  9. American Portrait miniatures in the Manney Collection By Dale T Johnson page 213
  10. Art in Scotland By Robert Brydall 1889 page 245-6
  11. https://www.royalscottishacademy.org/royal-scottish-academicians/
  12. The Life and Works of Hugh William Williams by J Rock Vol 1 p8.
  13. An Elizabeth Gaskell Chronology by G Handley p.25
  14. *Grays Directory 1832–33 page 196
  15. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/121686914/alexander-thomson Find a grave.com
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