# Samuel Shelley artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/samuel-shelley/
Profile generated: 2026-06-01T04:07:15.219Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Death date: 1808
- Nationality: English, British
- Movements: British portrait miniature tradition (Georgian era)
- Common media: Portrait miniatures on ivory, Watercolour, Engraving

## About Samuel Shelley

Samuel Shelley (circa 1750–1808) was an English miniaturist and watercolour painter active in London during the late Georgian period. Born in Whitechapel, he built a reputation for finely executed portrait miniatures, often painted on ivory, as well as watercolour figure subjects and genre scenes. Shelley also worked as an illustrator and engraver, reflecting the range of skills demanded of commercial artists in eighteenth-century Britain. His portraits capture the sitters and social circles of his era with compact precision. Works by Shelley are held in major public collections including the Tate, confirming his recognized place within the British miniature painting tradition.

## Common works and media

Collectors are most likely to encounter Shelley's work in the form of portrait miniatures on ivory, typically oval or rectangular in format and often housed in period frames or lockets. Watercolour figure studies and genre subjects also appear. Engraved plates after his designs circulate less frequently but are part of his documented output. Works range from intimate commissioned portraits to small-scale illustrative compositions.

## Market and appraisal context

Samuel Shelley's work appears most often in the portrait miniature and British watercolour categories at auction. Key factors affecting appraisal include the condition of the ivory support and painted surface, whether the work is signed or bears reliable attribution, and whether the sitter can be identified. Provenance linking a piece to a notable collection or historical figure can significantly increase its value. No published catalogue raisonné was identified, so attribution should be supported by comparison with documented works in institutions such as the Tate.

## Appraisily data basis

Appraisily artist pages combine verified artist identity research from library authorities and museum collections with available auction records, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lot data. For Samuel Shelley, identity data is grounded in records from Getty ULAN, VIAF, the Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie (RKD), and the Tate collection.

## Sources

- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7412607
- Getty Vocabulary Program: https://vocab.getty.edu/page/ulan/500024494
- VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/49497513/
- Tate: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/samuel-shelley-2456
- RKD - Netherlands Institute for Art History: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/72279
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Shelley
- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2001038348