Richard Samuel
Encyclopedia
Richard Samuel was an English portrait painter who appears as a winner of prestigious medals in the 1770s in London. He is known for a small number of paintings including what came to be known as the Nine Living Muses of Great Britain. Samuel painted the nine leading Blue Stockings as the Nine Muses in 1778.
for the best historical drawing. He had entered the Royal Academy's schools in 1770. Later he was given money for creating an improvement in the techniques for applying mezzotint grounds, although strangely there are no surviving examples of Samuel's art that use this technique. His work consisted of conversation piece
s, whole length paintings and portraits. Several of these were chosen and exhibited at the exhibitions at the Royal Academy
between 1772 and 1779. In 1779 Samuel took a job as an assistant secretary at the Royal Academy (which he kept until his death).
Two works are particularly admired. Samuel did a larger than usual portrait of Robert Pollard, the engraver. This work was in the style of Thomas Gainsborough
and shows Pollard who was an idiosyncratic printseller who made a substantial living from his work. A more unusual painting was a construction he made using the portraits of well known independent British women of his time. He is not known to have identified them, but a later engraving revealed them to be chosen for their achievements and intellectual ability.
Samuel had chosen leading women from different areas of achievement in line with idea of the Nine Muses of mythology. His choice of poet was Anna Letitia Barbauld, and Elizabeth Carter
was the scholar. Angelica Kauffman was the only founding female member of the Royal Academy
; Elizabeth Griffith
was a playwright; Charlotte Lennox
was a writer whilst Catherine Macaulay
was a historian. The last three were Elizabeth Montagu
, a leader of society, Hannah More
, a religious writer and playwright, and the singer Elizabeth Sheridan.
In 1786, the year that he died, Samuel published a short work that was titled "On the Utility of Drawing and Painting". It has been supposed that as his work does not appear to have ever fully developed (or that he retired), he died at a young age.
. His painting of the nine muses is used as emblematic of the emergence of bluestockings in the eighteenth century. The painting was also made into an engraving where the title of the Nine Living Muses of Great Britain was used.
Samuels painting of the nine muses has been notably recreated by Derry Moore
's 1996 photograph which is also in London's National Portrait Gallery. Moore's photograph includes a contemporary selection of notable British women including Darcy Bussell and Vivienne Westwood
.
Biography
The parents, childhood and artistic training of Richard Samuel are not known. Samuel came to notice when he twice won the prestigious award from the Society of ArtistsSociety of Artists
The Society of Artists of Great Britain was founded in London in May 1761 by an association of artists in order to provide a venue for the public exhibition of recent work by living artists, such as was having success in the long-established Paris salons....
for the best historical drawing. He had entered the Royal Academy's schools in 1770. Later he was given money for creating an improvement in the techniques for applying mezzotint grounds, although strangely there are no surviving examples of Samuel's art that use this technique. His work consisted of conversation piece
Conversation piece
Conversation piece is a term for an informal group portrait, especially those painted in Britain in the 18th century, beginning in the 1720s. They are distinguished by their portrayal of the group apparently engaged in genteel conversation or some activity, very often outdoors...
s, whole length paintings and portraits. Several of these were chosen and exhibited at the exhibitions at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
between 1772 and 1779. In 1779 Samuel took a job as an assistant secretary at the Royal Academy (which he kept until his death).
Two works are particularly admired. Samuel did a larger than usual portrait of Robert Pollard, the engraver. This work was in the style of Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough was an English portrait and landscape painter.-Suffolk:Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, Suffolk. He was the youngest son of John Gainsborough, a weaver and maker of woolen goods. At the age of thirteen he impressed his father with his penciling skills so that he let...
and shows Pollard who was an idiosyncratic printseller who made a substantial living from his work. A more unusual painting was a construction he made using the portraits of well known independent British women of his time. He is not known to have identified them, but a later engraving revealed them to be chosen for their achievements and intellectual ability.
Samuel had chosen leading women from different areas of achievement in line with idea of the Nine Muses of mythology. His choice of poet was Anna Letitia Barbauld, and Elizabeth Carter
Elizabeth Carter
Elizabeth Carter was an English poet, classicist, writer and translator, and a member of the Bluestocking Circle.-Biography:...
was the scholar. Angelica Kauffman was the only founding female member of the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
; Elizabeth Griffith
Elizabeth Griffith
Elizabeth Griffith , sometimes also credited Elizabeth Griffiths, was an 18th-century Irish dramatist, fiction writer, essayist and actress, best known for her edition of Shakespeare's comedies published in 1775.- Biography :Griffith was born in Glamorgan, Glamorganshire, Wales to Dublin theatre...
was a playwright; Charlotte Lennox
Charlotte Lennox
Charlotte Lennox was an English author and poet. She is most famous now as the author of The Female Quixote and for her association with Samuel Johnson, Joshua Reynolds, and Samuel Richardson, but she had a long career and wrote poetry, prose, and drama.-Life:Charlotte Lennox was born in Gibraltar...
was a writer whilst Catherine Macaulay
Catherine Macaulay
Catharine Macaulay was an English historian.-Early life: 1731 – 1763:...
was a historian. The last three were Elizabeth Montagu
Elizabeth Montagu
Elizabeth Montagu was a British social reformer, patron of the arts, salonist, literary critic, and writer who helped organize and lead the bluestocking society...
, a leader of society, Hannah More
Hannah More
Hannah More was an English religious writer, and philanthropist. She can be said to have made three reputations in the course of her long life: as a poet and playwright in the circle of Johnson, Reynolds and Garrick, as a writer on moral and religious subjects, and as a practical...
, a religious writer and playwright, and the singer Elizabeth Sheridan.
In 1786, the year that he died, Samuel published a short work that was titled "On the Utility of Drawing and Painting". It has been supposed that as his work does not appear to have ever fully developed (or that he retired), he died at a young age.
Legacy
Samuel has only a limited number of works, but they are well placed. A few are at the National Portrait Gallery in London whilst others are at the Tate GalleryTate Gallery
The Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
. His painting of the nine muses is used as emblematic of the emergence of bluestockings in the eighteenth century. The painting was also made into an engraving where the title of the Nine Living Muses of Great Britain was used.
Samuels painting of the nine muses has been notably recreated by Derry Moore
Derry Moore, 12th Earl of Drogheda
Henry Dermot Ponsonby Moore, 12th Earl of Drogheda is a British photographer known professionally as Derry Moore.He inherited the title of Earl of Drogheda from his father, Charles Moore, 11th Earl of Drogheda...
's 1996 photograph which is also in London's National Portrait Gallery. Moore's photograph includes a contemporary selection of notable British women including Darcy Bussell and Vivienne Westwood
Vivienne Westwood
Dame Vivienne Westwood, DBE, RDI is a British fashion designer and businesswoman, largely responsible for bringing modern punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream.-Early life:...
.