Wilkie, Sir David

1785–1841, Scottish genre painter. He studied in Edinburgh and at the Royal Academy and won early popularity with his admirable little scenes of everyday life. Anecdotal painting was established in England with Wilkie's success. After traveling on the Continent, he turned to portraiture and historical painting. He became painter-in-ordinary to George IV and was knighted in 1836. Well-known examples of his work, including The Blind Fiddler, The Village Festival, and Blind Man's Bluff, are in the National Gallery and in the Tate Gallery, London.