David Wilkie

The book succeeds in offering a comprehensive and rigorous examination that explores many works that have either not been published or recently exhibited. As such it is the most complete picture yet available of an artist who dazzled and intrigued yet, ultimately, frustrated his public. -- Robin Nicholson, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts College Art Association Reviews Tromans has looked long at and thought hard about Wilkie. The impressive result is a book which bursts at the binding with new ideas and insights. -- Richard Green Burlington Magazine An essential read for anyone with pretensions to understanding painting in Europe during the early decades of the nineteenth century... the book's interdisciplinary approach merits the attention of any serious student of British cultural history. -- Matthew Clarke A most intelligent and persuasive account of the artist. As the author states, it is a biographical study which aspires to be a social study of the artist's career. It achieves both aims admirably. The prose is clear, at times amusing, and the book is extremely well written, a good read -- a rare thing these days among academic texts. The biography is intriguing and the monographic aspect of the book brought most of Wilkie's works together for the first time. A major achievement for which both the author and publisher deserve congratulations and gratitude. -- The Adjudicators of the William MB Berger Prize for British Art History An enjoyable and stimulating book... A nice balance of text and illustration (monochrome and colour), factors that add to the pleasure of reading. -- Pamela Gerrish Nunn The Art Book The book succeeds in offering a comprehensive and rigorous examination that explores many works that have either not been published or recently exhibited. As such it is the most complete picture yet available of an artist who dazzled and intrigued yet, ultimately, frustrated his public. Tromans has looked long at and thought hard about Wilkie. The impressive result is a book which bursts at the binding with new ideas and insights. An essential read for anyone with pretensions to understanding painting in Europe during the early decades of the nineteenth century... the book's interdisciplinary approach merits the attention of any serious student of British cultural history. A most intelligent and persuasive account of the artist. As the author states, it is a biographical study which aspires to be a social study of the artist's career. It achieves both aims admirably. The prose is clear, at times amusing, and the book is extremely well written, a good read -- a rare thing these days among academic texts. The biography is intriguing and the monographic aspect of the book brought most of Wilkie's works together for the first time. A major achievement for which both the author and publisher deserve congratulations and gratitude. An enjoyable and stimulating book... A nice balance of text and illustration (monochrome and colour), factors that add to the pleasure of reading.