Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Grimm, Samuel Hieronymus
GRIMM, SAMUEL HIERONYMUS (1734–1794), water-colour painter, son of a miniature-painter, was born in 1734 at Burgdorf, near Berne in Switzerland. He came to London, and in 1769 was an exhibitor at the first exhibition of the Royal Academy, sending drawings of 'The Death of Priam' and 'The Feast of the Centaurs.' Grimm resided for some time in Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, and was a frequent exhibitor of drawings. In 1774 he exhibited two drawings of 'The Distribution of the Maundy in the Chapel Royal at Whitehall,' which were subsequently engraved by James Basire. Grimm's subjects were varied, but he was chiefly noted for his skill and accuracy as a topographical draughtsman. He was employed by Sir Richard Kaye to make drawings in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and other counties, and by Sir William Burrell to make drawings for his 'Sussex Collections.' Both of these large topographical collections are preserved in the department of manuscripts at the British Museum. In this line Grimm could hardly be excelled. His views of Cowdray House were published by the Society of Antiquaries in 'Vetusta Monumenta' He sometimes drew caricatures and humorous subjects, which were published by Carrington Bowles, and he occasionally practised etching himself. He died in Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, 14 April 1794, aged 60, and was buried in St. Paul's, Covent Garden. There are water-colour paintings by him in the print room at the British Museum and in the South Kensington Museum.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Edwards's Anecdotes of Painters; Royal Academy Catalogues.]