In these years, too, Wilson prospered and was a prom-
inent participant in the London art arena. Many of his
oil paintings were reproduced by skilled professional
engravers and in1768 he became a founding member,
along with Joshua Reynolds, Benjamin West and other
worthies, of the Royal Academy of Arts under the
patronage of George III.
Wilson's penultimate years, however, were sad. In ill health,
daunted by alcoholism and a prickly nature, his work
suffered. After 1780, removed to Wales by his family, he
faded into the ignominious obscurity of old age.
On a list of "100 Welsh Heroes," compiled in an opinion
poll conducted in Wales 2002-04, Wilson ranked 90th.
He was superseded by Thomas Jones, one of his most
accomplished pupils (number 75); actress Catherine
Zeta-Jones (13); poet Dylan Thomas (7); and Sir
Thomas John Woodward, a vocalist better known by his
stage name Tom Jones (3). Perhaps this new in-depth
exhibition of Wilson's work at Yale and this summer in Wales
will help elevate his rank. H Dick Kagan
March 6 to June 1 at
the Yale Center for British Art,
1080 Chapel Street, New Haven CT.
July 5 to October 26 at
Amgueddfa Cymru National Museum
Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff, U.K.
Richard Wilson and the Transformation
of European Landscape Painting
HYLAND
