Portrait of John Simpson, Physician, of Malton

Jackson was born in Yorkshire and began his career in art as a painter of miniature portraits. He moved to London at the turn of the nineteenth century, where he continued his studies at the Royal Academy of Arts, first as an associate and then rising to the level of an academician by 1818.

This engaging and expressive portrait depicts John Simpson, a Physician of Malton, England (located in North Yorkshire) as a distinguished professional. Dr. Simpson amassed significant wealth during his lifetime as a bachelor and physician, owning carriage horses and ordering his Madeira direct from its namesake isle.  He left his estate to his young nephew, also named Dr. John Simpson, with enough inheritance to quit his career (also as a physician), move to southern England, and enjoy the rest of his life as a country gentleman.

A colorful picture of Dr. Simpson’s hard-to-please personality and discerning taste can be pieced together through notations in his nephew John’s personal journal. He documents going to great lengths as not to offend his uncle and future benefactor during his lifetime, knowing what was at stake. He writes: “In the first place I shall have my Uncle to consult & to please, which will be no easy task.”

An engraving after this painting was created by Samuel William Reynolds.