Robert Hills RA. RWA.
1769 - 1844

Robert Hills was born in Islington, 26 June 1769 and died
London, 14 May 1844. He was an English painter and etcher.
After taking drawing-lessons from John Alexander Gresse, he
enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools, London, in 1788. Village
and rural scenes, and in particular studies of animals, occupied
him throughout his working life; his favourite subjects were
cattle, sheep, donkeys, pigs and above all deer, which he stalked
for the purpose of sketching. As well as making plein-air
drawings, Hills carried out careful anatomical studies of animal
bones and joints. Between 1798 and 1815 he issued an
extensive series of Etchings of Quadrupeds; the British Museum
holds the artist's collection of his own etchings, which number
over a thousand. He worked mostly in watercolour ( at the
Fitzwilliam )but also occasionally in oils.