Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/426

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of the county; and also in Yorkshire, Westmoreland, and other northern counties. He was one of the first artists who depicted the beautiful scenery of England. A col- lection of 40 plates from his Derbyshire views, engraved by Vivares and others, was published by Boydell in 1760. He died at the Hot Wells, Bristol, September 12, 1767.

SMITH, Thomas Coreggio, miniature painter. Was the eldest son of * Smith of Derby,' and was educated by him as a painter, but from want of ability or of ap- plication, succeeded no further than to be- come a bad miniature painter, and by this, aided by a small patrimony, he contrived to live. From 1785 to 1788 he exhibited at the Academy small portrait drawings and miniatures. He died at Uttoxeter, somewhat beyond the middle age.

SMITH, John Raphael, painter and mezzo-tint engraver. Born 1752. Younger brother of the above. Commenced life as the apprentice to a linen-draper at Derbv. He then for a time served as a shopman in London, and occupied his leisure, to in- crease his means, oy painting miniatures. Making some progress in art, he tried en- graving, and produced a print, called ' The Public Ledger open to all Parties/ which had so great a sale, that he was induced to turn engraver. He soon distinguished himself by his works in mezzo-tint, and in 1778 was residing in Bateman's Buildings, Soho, in the full practice of his art. He produced about that time his plate of 'Edwin/ after Wright, and of 'Mercury inventing the Lyre/ after Barry, both works of much skill. He afterwards en- graved many of Reynolds's works with great success, and a full comprehension and rendering of his manner. These works were very popular, and he was ap- pointed engraver to the Prince of \Vales. He formed an extensive connexion as a

Eublisher and dealer in prints, and should ave realised an independence ; but he was a man of pleasure, fond of company, which led to dissipation, became a sportsman, or rather sporting-man, an adept in field sports, pugilism, and the stage, and a good judge in all such matters. He was a Boon friend of George Morland, and one of his best speculations was his ' Morland Gallery.' He drew in black and red chalk with great spirit, and having gained the first rank as an engraver, was ambitious to distinguish himself as a painter, and drew with great ability small whole-length por- traits in crayons, and subject pictures, and from 1779 to 1790 was an exhibitor at the Academy, contributing, in 1782, a group of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and their children. His subject pictures were of the class then fashionable, 'The Widow's Tale/ 'The Unsuspecting Maid/ 'The

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Moralist/ 'Inattention.' and such like. When the print trade fell off', he devoted himself exclusively to this, and, becoming itinerant, visited professionally York, Shef- field, Doncaster, and other towns. His Eortraits of Mr. Fox, the Duke of Bedford, ir Francis Burdett, and Home Tooke are proofs of his ability. His latter portraits are slight and hasty, a manner suited to his disposition, and their number was in- calculable. He could finish one in an hour, but he was lost to his higher art. His mezzo-tints were tender, charming in draw- ing and expression, and full of colour. The last three years of his life were spent at Doncaster, where he died suddenly, of asthma, on March 2, 1812, in his 60th year, and was buried in Doncaster Church- yard. Possessed of art talents in an emi- nent degree, he was liberal, communicative, and an able critic and adviser. He was also gifted with great conversational powers and varied information. Chantrey, R.A., whom in early years he had encouraged in Sheffield, modelled a most characteristic bust of him. His son, J. R. Smith, was for several years at the beginning of the 19th century, an exhibitor of works of the same class as his father's.

SMITH, Miss Emma, water-colour painter. Daughter of the foregoing. Born about 1787. Had a talent for drawing. She exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1805 ' Hector taking leave of Andromache/ and in 1808 joined the Society of Associ- ated Artists in Water-Colours, during its brief existence.

SMITH, Samuel, engraver. Was born in London about 1745. He practised land- scape, using both the etching-needle and the graver. He completed some good plates — 'The Finding of Moses.' after Zuccarelli, 1788. He also engaged in some plates in conjunction with other artists ; and in the ' Niobe/ after Wilson, R. A., by Sharp, the landscape is by him, 1803.

SMITH SON, Robert, architect. He is supposed to have been the pupil and suc- cessor of John Thorp. He built several fine mansions and was architect to the Earls of Newcastle, for whom he built part of Welbeck. He died October 15, 1614, aged 79, and was buried at Wollaton, Notts.

SMITHSON, Huntingdon, architect He was the architect of Bolsover Castle, and when it was proposed to rebuild this immense pile, which he commenced in 1613, he was sent to Italy by the Earl of Newcastle to collect materials for the improvement of his work. He built the famed riding-house there in 1623, and the stables in 1625. He died December 27, 1648.

SMITHSON, John, architect. Son of Huntingdon Smithson; was well reputed as an architect. He died in 1678.

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