Palmer, Samuel

Samuel Palmer first exhibited at the Royal Academy when he was just 14 years old. He was mostly self-taught, never receiving any formal artistic training.  

John Linnell introduced him to William Blake in 1824. Blake influenced Palmer’s style throughout his life, as they shared the view that the artist creates a “unique vision of the world” based on imagination rather than observation. He was a leading figure in a group of artists called the Ancients who were also inspired by Blake and looked back at an idealised rural past.  

Palmer was a painter and etcher, and is most famous for his almost completely black and white landscapes in watercolour or ink. He was also influenced by his faith and by medieval art. 

The University of Reading Art Collection holds one work by Samuel Palmer.