Details

Name

William Simpson

Brief Biography

1823 - 1899, Scottish

Occupation

Artist

Description

William Simpson was born in Glasgow on 28th October, 1823. His early education was limited to fifteen months' attendance at a writing school at Perth, while staying there with his grandmother. After being for a short time in an architect's office, he was, at the age of fourteen, apprenticed to the firm of Allan & Ferguson, lithographers, Glasgow, with whom he remained until he removed to London in 1851. Mr. Allan, the senior partner, both as an artist and an antiquary, took a special interest in the picturesque old buildings of the City, and it was through him that Simpson was employed to make the sketches of which the drawings of 'Glasgow in the Forties' are the outcome. Some of these sketches were published by Allan & Ferguson, with descriptive letterpress by Robert Stuart, under the title of 'Views of Glasgow', but the name of the artist remained unknown, and it was only when Simpson wrote his notes for 'Glasgow in the Forties', fifty years afterwards, that their authorship was revealed. On his removal to London, Simpson got employment from Day & Son, the eminent lithographers. On the outbreak of the Russian war in 1854, he was commissioned by Colnaghi & Sons to proceed to the Crimea as a war artist - the first appointment of the kind. After the Indian Mutiny broke out, Simpson was despatched to make a series of sketches for a proposed work on India, to be published by his previous employers, Day & Son. For three years he travelled in India, venturing even to the forbidden land of Tibet, where he made important observations in connection with the Buddhist religion. On his return, after spending about four years in preparing his sketches for reproduction, his employers failed, and about 250 of his completed drawings were seized and sold as part of the bankrupt stock. Immediatedly thereafter he obtained an appointment on the staff of the 'Illustrated London News', a connection which continued until his death. For the 'News' he was in Russia sketching the functions in connection with the marriage of the Czarewitch in 1866, afterwards visiting Moscow and other parts of Russia along with the Prince of Wales. Subsequently he travelled in Palestine, went with the expedition to Abyssinia in 1868, and was special artist for the 'News' during the Franco-German War and the period of the Commune in Paris. In 1872 he was sent to China on the occasion of the marriage of the Emperor Tung-chin, after which he visited Japan, crossed to San Francisco, and came home by the United States. In 1875 he was again in India in the suite of the Prince of Wales. In 1877 he was engaged in making sketches of the work of exploration being carried on at Mycenae, Troy, and Ephesus by Dr. Schliemann; and in 1878-79 he accompanied Sir Samuel Brown through the Afghan campaign. On his return he remained several years in London, occupying himself in literary work, dealing chiefly with archaeological and architectural subjects. The last journey he undertook was in 1884, when he accompanied Sir Peter Lumsden and the Afghan Boundary Commisson to Penjdeh. His death occured in London on 17th August 1899, and his last days were occupied in completing the watercolour drawings on 'Glasgow in the Forties' from his original sketches, and in writing the notes which accompany the series. Simpson was quite as active with pen as with pencil. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in 1875, and an Hon. Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1881. He was also one of the original members of the Institute of Painters in Oil Colours and a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours.