Samuel De Wilde facts for kids
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Samuel De Wilde (1751–1832) was a talented artist from London. He was especially known for painting pictures of actors and actresses. His work helps us see what famous performers looked like a long time ago.
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Who Was Samuel De Wilde?
Samuel De Wilde was born in London in 1751. His father was a joiner, which is someone who builds things with wood. Samuel's family had Dutch roots. He lived in an area of London called Somers Town.
Becoming an Artist
When Samuel was young, he started learning to be a joiner like his father. But he soon discovered his real passion was art. He left his apprenticeship and joined the Royal Academy Schools in 1769. This was a famous art school where he could learn to paint.
Early Exhibitions
Samuel started showing his small portraits to the public. He exhibited his work at the Society of Artists between 1776 and 1778. Then, from 1778 onwards, he also showed his paintings at the Royal Academy.
Painting the Stars of the Stage
Samuel De Wilde became very famous for his theatrical portraits. These were paintings of actors and actresses in their costumes, often showing them in character from plays. He was one of the most important painters of performers between 1770 and 1820.
Working for Publishers
His career in painting theatre stars really took off when he worked for John Bell. John Bell was a publisher who created a series called British Theatre. Samuel De Wilde painted portraits for this publication from 1791 to 1795.
A Popular Studio
Many actors and actresses visited Samuel's studio in Drury Lane, London. They would sit for him while he painted their portraits. His theatrical works appeared in many popular books and magazines of the time. These included the Monthly Mirror, John Cawthorn's Minor British Theatre, and William Oxberry's New English Drama.
De Wilde's Art Style
Most of Samuel De Wilde's artwork was done using pencils or watercolours. These materials allowed him to capture the expressions and costumes of the performers in a detailed way. His paintings give us a wonderful look into the world of theatre from over 200 years ago.
