WILSON, Richard, an eminent landscape-painter, was the son of a clergyman in Montgomeryshire, in Wales, where he was born in 1713. Having displayed early a taste for drawing, he was placed by his relation, Sir George Wynne, with an obscure portrait-painter in London, where he made great progress. After practising in portraits for some time in London, he resolved to visit Italy, which he accordingly accomplished in 1749. While in that country, he was advised by Zucarelli and Vernet, who took an interest in his studies, to try landscape. Henceforward Wilson painted little but patches of country; but these he executed with such simplicity and truthfulness, as occasionally to gain for him the epithet of the English Claude. In 1760, after his return from Italy, he exhibited his famous picture of "Niobe," which established his reputation in England. He painted besides a "View of Rome from the Villa Madama," and many other pictures which cannot here be mentioned. But it is sad to relate that, from some cause or other, probably from the surly temper of the artist, or from the uncouthness of his manners, he was in his later years reduced to great straits. The products of his pencil had to go to picture-dealers, who, it is reported, had to hoard them up till their author was gone, when they brought in as many hundreds as they originally cost of pounds. He died at Llanverris, in Wales, in 1782.