Attributed to William Valentine

(Whitehaven 1798-1849 Halifax)

Portrait of Samuel George William Archibald of Nova Scotia in court dress

Footnotes

Provenance
By descent through the sitter's family

Samuel George William Archibald (1777 -1846) was a lawyer, judge and leading political figure in Nova Scotia. Indeed, his family hold a significant place in Nova Scotian history. His grandfather David Archibald, along with his four brothers, helped to found Truro, N.S., in 1762. Since his grandfather and father had been assemblymen and his eldest son, Charles Dickson, was to be one, four generations of the family in lineal descent served as members. Samuel George William Archibald represented Halifax County from 1806 to 1836 and Colchester County from 1836 to 1841 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly and was Speaker from 1824 to 1841. He was named King's Counsel in 1817, Solicitor General for Nova Scotia in 1826 and acting Attorney General in 1830. In 1841, he was named Master of the Rolls and resigned his seat in the assembly.

After Henry Field, William Valentine was the most important portrait painter in early 19th century Nova Scotia. Born in England, Valentine immigrated to Halifax in 1818. His early career as a portrait and landscape painter was not particularly successful. However, after travelling to England in 1836 where he studied the well-known painters of the day such as Sir Thomas Lawrence, his paintings greatly improved both in tone and colour. When Valentine returned to Halifax he enjoyed a period of great success between 1837 to 1844 painting well over 100 portraits of eminent Nova Scotians including Samuel George William Archibald.