WILLIAM

See also:

• COLLINS, ANTHONY (1676-1729)
• COLLINS, JOHN CHURTON (1848-1908)
• COLLINS, MORTIMER (1827-1876)
• COLLINS, WILLIAM (1721-1759)
• WILLIAM COLLINS (1787–1847)
• COLLINS, WILLIAM WILKIE (1824–1889)

COLLINS (1787–1847)  , English painter, son of an Irish picture dealer and man of letters, the author of a Life of George Morland, was born in London . He studied under Etty in 1807, and in 1809 exhibited his first pictures of repute—" Boys at Breakfast," and " Boys with a Bird's Nest." In 1815 he was made associate of the Royal Academy, and was elected R . A. in 1820 . For the next sixteen years he was a constant exhibitor; his fishermen, shrimp-catchers, boats and nets, stretches of coast and sand, and, above all, his rustic children were universally popular . Then, however, he went abroad on the advice of Wilkie, and for two years (1837–1838) studied the life, manners and scenery of Italy . In 1839 he exhibited the first fruits of this journey; and in 1840, in which year he was appointed librarian to the Academy, he made his first appearance as a painter of history . In 1842 he returned to his early manner and choice of subject, and during the last years of life enjoyed greater popularity than ever . Collins was a good colourist and an excellent draughtsman . His earlier pictures are deficient in breadth and force, but his later work, though also carefully executed, is rich in effects of tone and in broadly painted masses . His biography by his son, W . Wilkie Collins, the novelist, appeared in 1848 .