Samuel Palmer Ashmolean is a British artist and illustrator who is best known for his works in watercolour and oil painting. He was born in 1799 in London and died in 1878. He was a self-taught artist and was highly influenced by the works of the Pre-Raphaelites. He is known for his romantic landscapes, which often depict the English countryside. His works have been exhibited in many major art galleries, including the Tate Britain, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, where his work is held in their permanent collection.
Early Life and Influences
Samuel Palmer Ashmolean was born in London in 1799 and was the son of a successful printer. His family was religious and very conservative, and his father was very strict in his upbringing. As a child, Palmer was very interested in art and nature, and he spent much of his time sketching and painting the countryside around his home. He was also deeply inspired by the works of the Pre-Raphaelite painters, such as John Everett Millais and William Holman Hunt. These influences can be seen in his works, which often depict scenes of the English countryside with a romantic, dream-like quality.
Career and Works
Palmer began his career as an illustrator, working for the engraver William Finden. He was soon recognised for his talent, and his works were exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1820. In 1826, he published a book of engravings called ‘The Bible in Pictures’. This book was a great success, and it made Palmer a popular and respected artist. Throughout his career, Palmer continued to create romantic landscapes in watercolour and oil, and he became a member of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers in 1833. He was also a successful engraver, and he often produced prints of his paintings for sale.
Later Life and Legacy
In the later years of his life, Palmer moved to the town of Shoreham in Kent, where he became a member of the Shoreham Brotherhood. This group of artists, including William Blake and Edward Calvert, shared an interest in mysticism and a love of nature. Palmer’s works during this period often depicted the rural landscapes of Kent and Sussex, and he continued to paint until his death in 1878. His works have been exhibited in many major galleries, including the Tate Britain, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, where his work is held in their permanent collection.
Style and Technique
Palmer’s works are characterised by a dream-like quality and a romantic, almost ethereal atmosphere. He was highly influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites, and his works often depict the English countryside in a poetic and dream-like way. He was a master of watercolour and oil painting, and he often employed a technique known as ‘grisaille’, in which he painted in shades of grey and black. He was also an accomplished engraver, and he often produced prints of his paintings.
Conclusion
Samuel Palmer Ashmolean was a British artist and illustrator who was highly influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites. He was a master of watercolour and oil painting, and he often depicted the English countryside in a romantic and dream-like way. His works have been exhibited in many major galleries, including the Tate Britain, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, where his work is held in their permanent collection.