Sir David Wilkie was a Scottish painter, who was the son of the parish minister of Cults in Fife, Scotland. He developed a love for art at an early age. In 1799, after he had attended school at Pitlessie, KingsKettle and Cupar, he was given permission by his father to become a painter. Through the influence of the Earl of Leven Wilkie was admitted to the Trustees' Academy in Edinburgh, and began the study of art under John Graham.

He became a special admirer of the works of Alexander Carse and David Allan, two Scottish painters of scenes from humble life. A scene from Allan Ramsay, and a sketch from Macneill's ballad of Scotland's Skaith, afterwards developed into the well-known Village Politicians, were the first subje...