Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Samuel, Richard
SAMUEL, RICHARD (fl. 1770–1786), portrait-painter, twice obtained the gold medal of the Society of Arts for the best original historical drawing, and in 1773 was awarded a premium for an improvement in laying mezzotint grounds, but there is no record of his having practised this art. From 1772 to 1779 he contributed to the Royal Academy exhibitions portraits, small whole-lengths, heads, and conversation pieces, with an occasional subject-piece. In 1784 he painted a large portrait of Robert Pollard [q. v.] the engraver, which is now in the National Portrait Gallery; this is a work of some distinction, painted somewhat in the manner of Gainsborough. In 1786 he published a short pamphlet ‘On the Utility of Drawing and Painting.’ A group of female portraits by him was engraved as ‘The Nine Living Muses of Great Britain.’ As none of his works show maturity in his art, it is probable that he died young.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760–1893; Catalogue of the National Portrait Gallery.]