Mr William Sawrey Gilpin

William Sawrey Gilpin came from a family of amateur artists. He became a drawing master in London, painting mainly in watercolours and concentrating on landscape scenes. After some time away from London, he returned there in 1804. He was elected the first president of the Society of Painters in Water Colours. He resigned in 1806 and took up a post as third drawing master at the Royal Military College in Marlow.

He was discharged from his post in 1820, at the age of nearly 60, at which point he turned to landscape gardening. He established himself in this field in the 1820s and 1830s, working mainly for the landed gentry. His work was endorsed by Sir Uvedale Price, who recommended Gilpin's services to many friends. He was also recommended by J.C. Loudon. Gilpin's approaches to landscape gardening were laid out in Practical hints upon landscape gardening: with some remarks on domestic architecture, as connected with scenery (1832). William Gilpin died at Sedbury Hall, the home of his cousin John Gilpin, in 1843.

Bibliography

Piebenga, S, 'Gilpin, William Sawrey (1761/2-1843)' Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford: Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Oct 2006) [ accessed 23 June 2009]