Samuel Bell Waugh: A Pioneer of Panoramic Art and Portraiture Samuel Bell Waugh (1814 – 1885) stands as a significant figure in American art history, particularly recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to panoramic painting alongside his distinguished portrait commissions. Born in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania—a town founded by his father, James Waugh, a prominent pioneer settler—Waugh’s early life remains somewhat shrouded in obscurity, though evidence suggests he honed his artistic skills through apprenticeships in Pittsburgh paint shops and instruction from J.R. Smith, the artist…