William Gilpin is perhaps best known for his writings on art and aesthetics, and particularly as the founder of the aesthetic school of the picturesque. However, it was the roles of schoolmaster and clergyman that most fundamentally shaped his life, and he developed innovative and enlightened theories on education and the disciplining of the young. Gilpin's literary output extends far beyond his popular travelogues and aesthetic tracts; he was also a prolific biographer and author of theological works aimed at the general reader.
Born on 4 June 1724 at Scaleby Castle, near Carlisle, in Cumberland, William Gilpin was the eldest son of Captain John Bernard Gilpin (1701-1776) and Matilda Langstaffe (1703-1773). The Gilpin family was well known in the north of England and the love of art
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Citation: Kinsley, Zoë. "William Gilpin". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 February 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1754, accessed 22 November 2024.]
