Samuel De Wilde (1751–19 January 1832), born and died in London, was a portrait painter and etcher of Dutch descent famous for his theatrical paintings. He was the leading painter of actors and actresses between 1770 and 1820. He lived in Clarendon Square, Somers Town. De Wilde was baptised in London on 28 July 1751, the son of a Dutch joiner who had settled there by 1748. He was apprenticed to his godfather, Samuel Haworth, a joiner in London, but left after five years and enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools from 1769. He exhibited small portraits at the Society of Artists (1776–1778) and at the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its purp ...

(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. He became well known for his theatrical portraiture, which he exhibited at the

from 1792 until 1821. At his studio in Drury Lane many actors and actresses came to sit for him and his theatrical portraits appeared in numerous publications, including the '' Monthly Mirror'', John Cawthorn's ''Minor British Theatre'' and

William Oxberry William Oxberry (1784–1824) was an English actor. He also wrote extensively on the theatre, and was a printer and publisher. Early life Oxberry was the son of an auctioneer, born on 18 December 1784 in Moorfields, London, opposite Bedlam. Af ...

's ''New English Drama''. The bulk of his work is in pencil or watercolour.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:De Wilde, Samuel 1751 births 1832 deaths 18th-century English painters English male painters 19th-century English painters People from Somers Town, London English portrait painters Artists from London 19th-century English male artists 18th-century English male artists