Samuel Calvert studied in his native London with his father, engraver Edward Calvert, before emigrating to Australia in 1848. Arriving in Adelaide, he found employment in a printery, became co-proprietor of the Monthly Almanac and Illustrated Commentator and produced illustrations, views and advertisements for a number of publications. He moved to Melbourne in 1852 and by the following year was exhibiting his work with the Victorian Arts Society. Between this time and his retirement to England in 1888, Calvert exhibited and won awards for his work at Australian and international exhibitions and was a prolific contributor to the major illustrated newspapers including Melbourne Punch, Australasian Sketcher and Illustrated Australian News. Calvert's work is held in the collections of most Australian state libraries and galleries.
