William Douglas (painter, born 1780)

William Douglas (1780 - 1832) was a Scottish portrait painter. He was born in Edinburgh and primarily worked in that city throughout his career. Douglas was known for his portraits of prominent Scottish figures, including members of the legal profession, the clergy, and Edinburgh society. He exhibited regularly at the Royal Scottish Academy. While not as widely celebrated as some of his contemporaries, his work provides a valuable record of the appearance of individuals in early 19th century Scotland. Information on his personal life is scarce, but available records indicate he was a working artist with a steady output of portrait commissions. His style is generally considered to be in the tradition of the Scottish Enlightenment portraiture, characterized by a realistic and somewhat formal approach. He died in Edinburgh in 1832.