Samuel De Wilde (1751 – 1832)

• Was a portrait painter and etcher of Dutch descent.
• Born and died in London.
• He lived in Clarendon Square, Somers Town.

• De Wilde was the son of a Dutch joiner who had settled there by 1748.

• He was apprenticed to his godfather Samuel Haworth.

• After five years he enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools from 1769.

• He exhibited small portraits at the Society of Artists (1776–1778) and at the Royal Academy (from 1778).

• His career in theatrical portraiture began when he was employed by John Bell as portraitist for his publication British Theatre, a series that ran from 1791 until 1795.

• At his studio in Drury Lane many actors and actresses came to sit for him.

• His theatrical portraits appeared in numerous publications, including the Monthly Mirror, John Cawthorn's Minor British Theatre and William Oxberry's New English Drama.

• The bulk of his work is in pencil or watercolour.

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