Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Middiman, Samuel
MIDDIMAN, SAMUEL (1750–1831), engraver, born in 1750, first appears as an exhibitor of landscape drawings at the Incorporated Society of Artists in 1772 and following years, and in 1780 he exhibited drawings at the Royal Academy. He studied engraving under William Byrne [q. v.], and is also said to have had instruction in this art from William Woollett [q. v.] He was employed as an engraver by John Boydell for several years, and engraved for him, in the ‘Shakespeare Gallery,’ ‘As you like it,’ act ii. scene 1, after W. Hodges, R.A.; ‘Winter's Tale,’ act iii. scene 3, after J. Wright, A.R.A.; ‘First Part of Henry IV,’ act ii. scene 2, after R. Smirke, R.A., and J. Farington, R.A.; and ‘As you like it,’ act ii. scene 1, after John Boydell. Middiman's chief excellence lay in his engraving of landscape, in which he pursued worthily the course marked out by Woollett and others. His etchings for the early stages in this style were highly esteemed, and, being of an unassuming disposition, he was frequently engaged by other engravers for this preliminary work. Middiman, however, finished with great skill and care many engravings of his own, after well-known artists, most of which appeared in the following publications: ‘Select Views in Great Britain,’ 1784–92, 53 plates (2nd edit. 1812); ‘Picturesque Castles and Abbeys in England and Wales,’ 1805–8, 16 plates; and ‘Picturesque Views and Antiquities of Great Britain,’ 1807–11, 69 plates. A large collection of his engravings in progressive states is in the print room at the British Museum. Middiman died in Cirencester Place, London, on 20 Dec. 1831.
[Dodd's manuscript Hist. of English Engravers (Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 33403); Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Univ. Cat. of Books on Art; Gent. Mag. 1831, ii. 650 (indexed Middiham).]