David Octavius Hill  RSA

Artist

Lithography and Book Illustrations

David Octavius Hill learnt lithography, having three of his lithographs published in Sketches and Scenery of Perthshire [published when?].

During the 1830s, he produced landscapes, reproduced as engravings in The Waverley Novels, The Works of Robert Burns and other Scottish books. 

[Book accompanying the 1870 Exhibition]

Royal Scottish Academy

In Edinburgh, The Royal Institution established the Scottish Academy in 1829.  David Octavius Hill became the Academy's first Secretary in 1830.  This post was unpaid until 1836, but the position enabled him to mix socially with many leading artists.  He continued to hold the position of Secretary to Royal Scottish Academy until 1869, the year before his death.

DO Hill exhibited about 300 landscapes at the Royal Scottish Academy exhibitions.  Twenty-two of these were exhibited at a Centenary Exhibition displayed at the Scottish Arts Council Gallery Gallery in Edinburgh in 1970 and at other galleries around Britain over the following year.

[Book accompanying the 1870 Exhibition]

The Edinburgh Institution

The Edinburgh Institution was a school established in 1832 in a flat in George Street.  It moved to 3 Hill Street the following year, to 8 Queen Street from 1853 until 1920 then to Melville Street 

Among the original members of staff was David Octavius Hill.  He taught in the school's Art Department, 1832-35.  At that time, he was  Secretary of the Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.

[Book: Edinburgh Institution]