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Joseph Samuel Webster facts for kids

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Robert Strange Webster
Webster's portrait of Robert Strange, around 1750
'Sir' Levett Hanson (1754–1814)
Portrait of Levett Hanson by Webster, around 1790

Joseph Samuel Webster was an English artist who lived in the 1700s. He was a portrait painter, meaning he specialized in painting people. Webster used many different art materials, including tiny paintings called miniatures, as well as oils, pastels, and crayons. He was known for capturing the likeness of people in his artwork.

Who Was Joseph Samuel Webster?

Joseph Samuel Webster was a talented English painter. He lived during the 18th century. Not much is known about his personal life. However, his artwork tells us a lot about his skills. He created many portraits of important people of his time.

His Artistic Journey

Webster's earliest known works date back to the mid-1700s. For example, he painted a portrait of Robert Strange around 1750. Another early painting was of John Ward, from about 1755.

Exhibiting His Art

From 1762 to 1780, Webster lived in an area of London called Covent Garden. During these years, he often showed his artwork to the public. He exhibited his miniatures and crayon drawings at the Society of Artists of Great Britain. In 1763, his art was also displayed at the Free Society. This shows he was an active artist in London's art scene.

A Fire and His Legacy

In 1769, a fire sadly destroyed some of Webster's artwork. The Society of Artists paid him for the damage. He continued to paint for many years. One of his later works, a portrait of Sir Levett Hanson, was painted around 1790. Joseph Samuel Webster passed away in 1796.

Webster's Painting Style

Art experts have noted Webster's painting style. Georg Kaspar Nagler, a writer about artists, said that Webster painted in a way similar to the famous artist Joshua Reynolds. Webster painted not only portraits but also "ideal figures." These were imagined people, not real ones. Some of his paintings were even turned into engravings. This means they were copied onto metal plates to make prints. One such engraving was of his painting of Thomas Herring, who was an important church leader.

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