William Johnstone

William Borthwick Johnstone, (21 July 1804 – 5 June 1868) was a Scottish landscape and historical painter, art collector, and gallery curator. He played an important role in the formation of the National Gallery of Scotland, and served as its first principal curator. Life Origins William Borthwick Johnstone, born in Edinburgh on 21 July 1804, was a son of John Johnstone, an Edinburgh lawyer, originally from Lanarkshire. Both his father and mother died when he was very young, and he and his younger brother James were placed under the care of Mr. Cunningham, the parish minister of Duns, Berwickshire, where they attended school. Both brothers afterwards entered lawyers' offices in Edinburgh. The younger continued a lawyer throughout life, and became clerk to Lord Benholm the judge. Painting William, disliking the pursuit of law, ultimately devoted himself to painting, beginning in 1836 to contribute to the Royal Scottish Academy. From January 1840 till May 1842 he attended in the evenings the antique class of the Trustees' Academy under the direction of William (afterwards Sir William) Allan. With the single exception of 1843, when he was abroad, he was represented in every exhibition of that body till, and including, the year of his death. Up to 1847 he figures in the catalogues as 'William Johnstone', but in that year he added his mother's name of Borthwick to his signature. In 1840 he was elected an associate, and in 1848 a full member of the Royal Scottish Academy, of which in 1850 he became treasurer, a position for which his business training well qualified him. In 1842 he visited Italy in company with Vatcher, a water-colour painter, residing at first in Venice, and afterwards with Alexander Wison the painter in Rome, where he was much impressed by the works of Overbeck. He returned to Scotland early in 1844.