Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/425



SMITH,, wood-engraver. Was born at Colchester in 1799. He was educated as an architect, but on coming to London he made some successful attempts at wood-engraving, and in 1824 placed himself under William Harvey. His first works of importance were the illustrations to Seeley's Bible, and some spirited heads, after Kenny Meadows. In 1835 he commenced the illustrations for a French edition of 'Paul and Virginia,' which were very successful, and in the same year was engaged upon 'The Solace of Song.' Following this, he engraved the designs for 'The Illustrated Shakespeare,' by Kenny Meadows; also for La Fontaine's 'Fables,' Béranger's 'Songs' and other works of the same character. He died from apoplexy, caused by the shock of a shower-bath, October 15, 1843.

SMITH,, watercolour painter. He was born in 1778, in London, where his father was a builder. Left without provision, he was sent to sea, and after serving about three years he was admitted to the mathematical school of Christ's Hospital to improve himself in navigation. But he showed a desire to try art and was placed under an engraver, with whom he worked with credit, but not upon plates that bear his name. Some of his best works on copper will, however, be found in Weld's 'Topography of Killarney.' After a time he appears to have quitted engraving, in which he was little known and ill-rewarded, to try painting in water-colour. He exhibited some views of churches at the Royal Academy, in 1806-1807. His subjects were chiefly of a topographical character. The undercroft of Canterbury Cathedral, 1807; Henry VII.'s Chapel; Waltham Cross, 1809; the Saxon town of Bury St. Edmund's; and St. Augustine's Gateway, Canterbury. He worked zealously at his new art, but he was suffering from a pulmonary attack and went to Madeira. He died on his passage home in August 1810.

SMITH,, modeller. Was a student in the St. Martin's Lane School, and in 1755 became the pupil of Roubilliac. He gained several premiums at the Society of Arts, the first in 1759, and later was employed for many years as the principal assistant to Nollekens, R.A. He carved the River Gods at Somerset House, after the designs of Cipriani, R.A. Some of his drawings were published in his son's 'Antiquities of London.' He is described on a food portrait etching as 'Sculptor and Printseller.'

SMITH, (called 'Antiquity Smith'), topographical draftsman. Son of the foregoing. Was born in a hackney coach, June 23, 1766. His great-uncle was Admiral Smith, known as 'Tom of Ten Thousand.' He entered the Schools of the Royal Academy, and was placed under Keyse Sherwin, the engraver, but he left him at the end of three years, and sought an engagement on the stage. This failing, he practised for many years as a drawing-master, residing at Edmonton. In 1798 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the appointment of drawing-master at Christ's Hospital. For a time also he practised as a portrait painter. He was a clever draftsman and a tolerable engraver, and his antiquarian feeling led him at last to topography. He was employed in drawings of that class, and his name is largely connected with recollections of the Metropolis.

His publications are numerous. In 1791, 'The Antiquities of London and its Environs;' in 1797, 'Remarks on Rural Scenery,' with 20 etchings of cottages from nature; in 1807, 'The Antiquities of Westminster;' between 1810-15, 'The Ancient Topography of London,' 'The Streets of London,' 1815, drawn and etched by himself. In 1816 he was appointed keeper of the prints in the British Museum, an office he held till his death; but it did not interrupt his busy literary pursuits, for he produced, in 1817, 'Vagabondana,' with 60 portraits drawn and etched by himself from the life, of noted mendicants in the Metropolis. He will, however, be best known to the public by his 'Nollekens and his Times' published in 1828, which, descending to the meanest domestic incidents of his friend's life, was attributed to disappointment from no mention in his will. He died in University Street, Tottenham Court Road, March 8, 1833, in his 67th year, and was buried in St. George's burial-ground, Bayswater Road. His 'Book for a Rainy Day' was published after his death. His drawings in water-colour shew great power in that art. His etchings are truthful and clever. His imitations of Rembrandt and the Dutch landscape painters very close.

SMITH,, engraver. Pupil of Charles Grignon. He executed some plates with C. White; but, thoughtless and good-natured, he cared little for his art, and being left a property of 300l. a-year, he was dubbed 'Squire Smith.' He died young, of fever, in 1785, and was buried at Clerkenwell Church.

SMITH,, landscape painter, known as 'Smith of Derby,' where he was born and chiefly resided. He was a self-taught painter, and acquired a respectable eminence by his own industry. He painted views of Chatsworth, dated 1744, Dovedale, the Peak, and other picturesque parts