Samuel Cousins

Inscriptionback to top

Inscribed on the letter (bottom right) which the sitter is holding: S. Cousins E[sq^r] RA
Inscribed on a label on the back of the picture (in the artist's hand): No. 50/Samuel Cousins Esq^r R.A./the celebrated engraver.
Inscribed on another label (in the donor's hand): This portrait of/Samuel Cousins/belongs to/Miss Emily P. Leakey/26 East Southernhay/ Exeter/Painted by her father James Leakey/. His handwriting is on the wooden frame.
Inscribed on another label (in the donor's hand): There is a small cut on the/lower part of the picture - this/I think was caused by/a nail on a landscape that/rested against it some years ago

This portraitback to top

The date of this portrait was supplied by Miss Leakey. Both Cousins and the artist were natives of Exeter, which explains their connection.

Physical descriptionback to top

Dark brown hair, lighter brown side-whiskers, dark blue-green eyes, healthy complexion. Dressed in a black coat, dark grey stock, white shirt, yellow waistcoat. Seated in a mahogany chair with red leather(?) arm-pads and back. Light red curtain behind with gold fringe. Rest of background, including faint suggestion of a pillar, brown/grey.

Provenanceback to top

The artist, presented by his daughter, Miss Emily Leakey, 1906.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1973, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

View all known portraits for Samuel Cousins