Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Jackson, Samuel
JACKSON, SAMUEL (1794–1869), landscape-painter, was born 31 Dec. 1794 at Bristol, where his father was a merchant. He began life in his father's office, but on his death abandoned business in favour of landscape-painting, and became a pupil of Francis Danby [q. v.], who was then residing in Bristol. In 1823 he was elected an associate of the Society of Painters in Water-colours, and during the next twenty-six years contributed forty-six drawings to its exhibitions. All these, with the exception of a few West Indian views, the result of a voyage taken in 1827 for the benefit of his health, illustrated English scenery, which he treated in a pleasing and poetical manner, somewhat resembling that of the two Barrets. In 1833 Jackson was one of the founders of a sketching society at Bristol, to which W. J. Müller, J. Skinner Prout, and other artists who later achieved eminence belonged, and he was always closely identified with the Bristol ‘school.’ In 1848 he withdrew from the Water-colour Society, having failed to obtain election to full membership. In 1855 and 1856 Jackson made tours in Switzerland, after which he painted, almost exclusively, Swiss views in oils, which were sent to the Bristol annual exhibition and sold well. Two drawings by him are in the South Kensington Museum. Jackson died at Clifton, 8 Dec. 1869. By his marriage with Jane Phillips he had a son, Samuel Phillips Jackson, member of the Royal Society of Painters in Water-colours, and three daughters.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Roget's Hist. of the Old Water-colour Society, 1891; information from the family.]