Samuel Dixon
Samuel Dixon was the son of Thomas Dixon, hosier, Cork Hill, and brother of John Dixon, the engraver. As early as 1748 he was established as a picture dealer and painter in Capel-street, at the house formerly occupied by Dr. Sheridan, grandfather of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, where he sold, “Flower-pieces, drawings in Indian ink, landscapes in oil for chimneys, and small ditto done on vellum in water-colour fit for ladies' closets.” Dixon became noted for his flower and bird pieces in basso-relievo. The designs for these were impressed on sheets of coarse grey paper, by copper plates from the back, so that the design stood out in relief. They were afterwards coloured by hand. Dixon employed several young men, who lived in his house, to colour these designs; amongst them being James Reilly and Gustavus Hamilton, afterwards well-known miniature painters in Dublin. www.whytes.ie
