Samuel Lucas: Artist, farmer, anti-slaver

Don’t miss North Herts’ most important Victorian artist

Come to see the district’s most prominent painter from the Victorian era, Samuel Lucas, at North Herts Museum in Hitchin from 9 September to 12 November.

Samuel Lucas (1805 -1870) was born in Hitchin and lived there all his life. He is probably best known for his large oil painting of Hitchin Market Place as it was around 1840, which is on permanent display at the museum. He was born into a Quaker family and was primarily a businessman, farmer and brewer, who painted in his spare time. His work was displayed at the Royal Academy and is in the collection of the British Museum.

This exhibition concentrates mainly on his watercolours and drawings, including almost 50 covering his interest in local landscapes and wildlife, and also his work as a Quaker in the anti-slavery movement.