John Thomson of Duddingston

John Thomson ( born September 1, 1778 in Dailly, Ayrshire, † October 28, 1840 in Duddingston ) was a Scottish landscape painter and succeeded his father as parish priest after.

Life

Thompson was enthusiastic about starting early in life for drawing and painting. Inspired by the beauty of Ayrshire, he developed have a particular fondness for landscapes. From 1791, he studied at the University of Glasgow, law and theology, and then continued his studies for the ministry at the University of Edinburgh. During his time in Edinburgh located Thomson input in artistic circles and thus made ​​the acquaintance of Sir Walter Scott and Alexander Nasmyth; the latter gave him lessons. After the death of his father in 1800, Thomson entered the successor as minister of Dailly. Later he was transferred to the parish of Duddingston, where he was until his death in office.

Notwithstanding his professional career, Thomson still employed as an amateur with the painting. He had for his own studio in the so-called Duddingston Tower, which was built in 1825 by the Duddingston Curling Society. The move to Duddingston enabled him to renew contacts with the Edinburgh art scene and continue to develop artistically.

Thomson is preferred to paint in the open air. By emulated popular painters such as Gaspard Poussin, Henry Raeburn and William Turner, he developed a far-reaching romantic style. The increasing recognition has also had a considerable commercial success. He was also an honorary member of the Royal Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts in Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy.