Samuel De Wilde (1751–1832) was born in London to a Dutch father. He is best known for being the leading painter of theatrical portraits between 1770 and 1820.
First apprenticed to his godfather, Samuel Haworth, a joiner in London, De Wilde left after five years and enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools from 1769. He exhibited small portraits at the Society of Artists and at the Royal Academy.
In the early 1790s De Wilde was employed by John Bell as portraitist for his publication 'British Theatre'. John Bell was an enterprising figure in London publishing, who realised the commercial potential of adding illustrations to printed volumes of Shakespeare and other literary editions. De Wilde was specially commissioned to produce ninety-three portrait drawings for the over 100 plays which were included in Bell's 'British Theatre' series.
De Wilde became well known for his theatrical portraiture and actors and actresses flocked to his studio in Drury Lane to sit for him. His theatrical portraits were exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1792 until 1821. His portraits also appeared in numerous publications, such as the Monthly Mirror, John Cawthorn's Minor British Theatre and William Oxberry's New English Drama.
His works, predominantly in pencil or watercolour, can be found in numerous public collections, including the British Museum; the National Portrait Gallery, London; the Royal Academy; the Victoria and Albert Museum; The Art Institute of Chicago; and Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, CT.
