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A wild landscape in a storm. Apollo stands in the storm clouds, upper left, with Artemis (Diana) behind him

1 print : engraving, with etching ; platemark 50 x 65.5 cm

Niobe and her children in despair as Apollo aims an arrow at them. Engraving by W. Sharp and S. Smith after R. Wilson.

A wild landscape in a storm, with fork lightning. Apollo stands on a treetop, upper right, with Artemis (Diana) behind him

1 print : engraving, with etching ; image 43.3 x 57.8 cm

The children of Niobe are shot with arrows by Apollo. Engraving by W. Woollett, 1761, after R. Wilson.

1 print : lithograph, printed in black, white and buff ; image 17.4 x 14.2 cm

John Hamilton Mortimer sketching out of doors among monumental ruins. Lithograph by J.R. Jobbins.

In the foreground, a herdsman with a bullock and goats, and other figures. Right, an ancient fragmentary bas-relief sculpture of a woman

1 print : engraving and etching ; platemark 35.3 x 51 cm, image 19.5 x 27 cm

The Vatican viewed from the surrounding countryside. Engraving by S. Middiman, 1764, after R. Wilson.

Temple of Minerva Medica, Rome: panoramic views. Etching by J. Hastings after R. Wilson.

In the distance a congregation of monks pray around a raised cross. "An elderly monk and his younger companion pass their days in study and contemplation by a still dark pool. Their peace is contrasted with the violently destroyed sculpture of a lion to the right, whose head lies almost unobserved, looking back towards its own ruins. The rich Italianate landscape is dominated by oak trees, associated in the 18th century with pre-Christian druids. In the far distance a religious ceremony takes place in a sunlit glade. At the lower left is an amphora and ribbon with an illegible inscription"--Spencer-Longhurst, op. cit. no. P114 (the painting in the opposite direction in Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea)
"The monks are contrasted with the ruined statue of the lion to suggest that a life contemplating Christian values will lead to a wise and contented old age, whereas leonine violence and aggression will bring only tragic destruction. The glimpse of a Christian religious procession in the far background suggests also a contrast between the contemplative and active life. The rich wooded landscape is a relatively uncharacteristic constructioin for Wilson. He usually preferred a prospect or a more Claudean approach but this kind of enclosed composition was adumbrated in Italy in the 1750s in such works as P46 Ariccia -I and was subsequently repeated in P182 The wilderness in St James's Park of the mid-1770s. Solitude first appeared as the title of the composition in the related print by Woollett and Ellis of 1778 ... David Solkin has argued that the composition gives emblematic form to the notion of rural retirement as a moral activity which allows mankind the opportunity to study and become aware of the greatness of God. This message was designed to appeal to to patrician landowners, who liked to think of themselves as virtuous hermits in the private confines of their country estates. Another 'aristocratic myth' suggested that rural leisure was necessary to the acquisition of wisdom. ... Originally the painting was called Landskip with hermits. The composition, with apparent references to ancient British virtues and liberties, proved popular and Wilson and his studio made a number of copies."--Spencer-Longhurst, op. cit. no. P114 (the painting in the opposite direction in Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea)
Robert Ledger, the owner of the painting, is not identified in Spencer-Longhurst, loc. cit. He may be the linen draper who was admitted to the freedom of York in 1752, and of whom (if the same man) there is a portrait (aged 40 in 1760) in York Museums Trust signed by John Maurice Hauck

1 print : engraving, with etching ; platemark 44.2 x 55.2 cm

A pool surrounded by a rocky embankment thickly wooded with trees, in which a monk reads from a book and another monk stands in front of him. Engraving by W. Woollett and W. Ellis, 1778, after R. Wilson.

The lake is described as Speculum Dianae, or mirror of Diana

1 print : engraving and etching ; image 46.8 x 42.5 cm

Lake Nemi, Lazio: Diana reproaching Callisto, to the consternation of two other nymphs. Engraving by J. Wood, 1764, after R. Wilson.

Geography: Niagara Falls, seen from a distance. Engraving, 1774, by W. Byrne after R. Wilson after Lt. Pierie.

Baths of Diocletian, Rome. Etching by J. Gandon after R. Wilson.

In Greek mythology, Ceyx was the son of Eosphorus and the king of Thessaly. He was married to the demi-goddess Alcyone (Halycone). When he perished at sea, his wife threw herself from the rocks. Out of compassion, the gods changed them into the halcyon birds

1 print : line engraving, with etching ; image 39.6 x 53.4 cm

Alcyone discovers the dead body of her husband Ceyx and attempts to throw herself off a cliff into the sea. Line engraving with etching by William Woollett after Richard Wilson, 1769.

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Niobe and her children in despair as Apollo aims an arrow at them. Engraving by W. Sharp and S. Smith after R. Wilson.

The children of Niobe are shot with arrows by Apollo. Engraving by W. Woollett, 1761, after R. Wilson.

John Hamilton Mortimer sketching out of doors among monumental ruins. Lithograph by J.R. Jobbins.

The Vatican viewed from the surrounding countryside. Engraving by S. Middiman, 1764, after R. Wilson.

Temple of Minerva Medica, Rome: panoramic views. Etching by J. Hastings after R. Wilson.

A pool surrounded by a rocky embankment thickly wooded with trees, in which a monk reads from a book and another monk stands in front of him. Engraving by W. Woollett and W. Ellis, 1778, after R. Wilson.

Lake Nemi, Lazio: Diana reproaching Callisto, to the consternation of two other nymphs. Engraving by J. Wood, 1764, after R. Wilson.

Geography: Niagara Falls, seen from a distance. Engraving, 1774, by W. Byrne after R. Wilson after Lt. Pierie.

Baths of Diocletian, Rome. Etching by J. Gandon after R. Wilson.

Alcyone discovers the dead body of her husband Ceyx and attempts to throw herself off a cliff into the sea. Line engraving with etching by William Woollett after Richard Wilson, 1769.

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Niobe and her children in despair as Apollo aims an arrow at them. Engraving by W. Sharp and S. Smith after R. Wilson.

The children of Niobe are shot with arrows by Apollo. Engraving by W. Woollett, 1761, after R. Wilson.

John Hamilton Mortimer sketching out of doors among monumental ruins. Lithograph by J.R. Jobbins.

The Vatican viewed from the surrounding countryside. Engraving by S. Middiman, 1764, after R. Wilson.

Temple of Minerva Medica, Rome: panoramic views. Etching by J. Hastings after R. Wilson.

A pool surrounded by a rocky embankment thickly wooded with trees, in which a monk reads from a book and another monk stands in front of him. Engraving by W. Woollett and W. Ellis, 1778, after R. Wilson.

Lake Nemi, Lazio: Diana reproaching Callisto, to the consternation of two other nymphs. Engraving by J. Wood, 1764, after R. Wilson.

Geography: Niagara Falls, seen from a distance. Engraving, 1774, by W. Byrne after R. Wilson after Lt. Pierie.

Baths of Diocletian, Rome. Etching by J. Gandon after R. Wilson.

Alcyone discovers the dead body of her husband Ceyx and attempts to throw herself off a cliff into the sea. Line engraving with etching by William Woollett after Richard Wilson, 1769.

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