Prout, Samuel

Samuel Prout (1783–1852) was a leading English watercolourist and one of the first British artists to achieve fame for his architectural subjects. He became renowned for his romantic depictions of Continental street scenes, especially the decaying grandeur of old buildings, gothic cathedrals, and picturesque townscapes in France, Italy, and the Low Countries. A master of architectural detail, Prout’s work combined accuracy with a poetic sensibility, capturing texture, light, and the weathered charm of the urban past. He was appointed Painter in Water-Colours in Ordinary to King George IV and later to Queen Victoria, a mark of the high regard in which he was held. His drawings and lithographs were widely published, helping to popularise the genre of architectural sketching. Prout’s influence was considerable — he was admired by John Ruskin, who studied under him as a boy and praised his ability to convey the spirit of old European cities with dignity and reverence. He was the uncle of John Skinner Prout.