The New International Encyclopædia/Schmidt, Georg Friedrich

SCHMIDT, (1712-75). A German engraver and designer, born in Berlin. He studied art there under Busch, and under Larmessin in Paris. In 1744 he was appointed engraver to Frederick II., in Berlin, and in 1757 he was summoned to Saint Petersburg by the Empress Elizabeth to engrave her portrait and to organize a school of engraving. His engravings and etchings in the style of Rembrandt rank with the best work of the eighteenth century in Germany. He engraved about 200 plates, the best of which are &ldquo;The Empress Elizabeth of Russia,&rdquo; &ldquo;Count Nicholas Eszterházy,&rdquo; &ldquo;Pierre Mignard,&rdquo; &ldquo;The Virgin and Child with Saint John,&rdquo; &ldquo;The Raising of Jairus's Daughter,&rdquo; and &ldquo;The Mother of Rembrandt.&rdquo;