Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Muss, Charles
MUSS, CHARLES (1779–1824), enamel and glass-painter, born in 1779, was son of Boniface Muss (or Musso), an Italian artist, who exhibited a drawing at the Society of Artists' exhibition in 1790, and is stated to have practised at Newcastle-on-Tyne. Muss was principally employed on glass-painting, and as such became one of the principal artists in Collins's glass-works near Temple Bar. He obtained some eminence in this art, and executed among others a copy of Rubens's 'Descent from the Cross' on glass for St. Bride's Church, Fleet Street. He devoted much time to the art of painting in enamel, and after some vicissitudes of fortune brought it to great perfection. He copied in this manner a number of important works by the old masters, some in an unusually large size, such as the 'Holy Family,' after Parmegiano. He was appointed enamel-painter to the king, and received many commissions from him. He had, however, barely secured success and a recognised position in his arts when his career was cut short by his death, which happened about August 1824. He had been an occasional exhibitor of enamels at the Royal Academy from 1800 to 1823. Muss was a personal friend of John Martin [q. v.] the painter, who undertook to direct the completion as far as possible of Muss's unfinished works on glass and in enamel. Muss had also prepared for publication a set of thirty-three original outline illustrations to Gay's 'Fables,' and a few copies were worked off for inspection before his death, which stopped their publication. He left a widow, and on 29 and 30 Nov. 1824 his collections of prints, drawings, &c., and completed works were sold by auction for her benefit.
[Gent. Mag. 1824, pt. ii. p. 186; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760–1880.]