William Simpson (British, 1823-1899)
Mount Ida, Island of Crete

signed, titled and dated 'Mount Ida, Island of Crete, Greece,/W Simpson, Jan 1869' (lower left)
watercolour over pencil, heightened with white

Dimensions: 27 x 42 cm. (10 5/8 x 16 1/2 in.)

With Karen Taylor Fine Art, London, 19 February 2018, where purchased by the family of the present owner

William Simpson was a leading Scottish artist of the 19^th Century, a favourite of Queen Victoria’s and a pioneer in the field of war artistry. His work from the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny and the Afghan War, among others, were published in the Illustrated London News and made him famous. He also became known for his architectural drawings, landscapes and major state events such as royal weddings and coronations across the world. He became an expert in various cultures and was elected to many learned societies.

This watercolour would have been made after Simpson returned from covering the British expedition to Abyssinia and before he went to Paris to sketch and paint the events of the Paris Commune in 1870.