Sir William Fettes Douglas (1822-1891) was a Scottish painter in the nineteenth century. He began as a hobbyist, while working at a bank. He became a professional painter at the age of 25. His work features, notably, occult and alchemical subjects, which we see in The Alchemist and in The Spell. William pursued this interest in the occult in his travels to Italy and to "the east" where he acquired antiquarian objects which were of his fascination.
In 1877 he was appointed director of the National Gallery of Scotland and in 1882 president of the Royal Scottish Academy.[1]
His works are displayed at such notable museums as the National Galleries of Scotland, Harvard University Art Museums, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.