John Thomas Smith (1766–1833)
Encyclopedia
John Thomas Smith also known as Antiquity Smith (1766–1833) was a painter, engraver and antiquarian. He wrote a life of the sculptor Joseph Nollekens
that was noted for its "malicious candour" and was a keeper of prints for the British Museum
.
on 23 June 1766. His mother was returning home to 7 Great Portland Street
. He was named John for his grandfather and Thomas after his great uncle, Admiral Thomas Smith. Smith's father was at that time a sculptor working for Joseph Nollekens
, but later became a printseller. John Thomas Smith first tried to train as a sculptor with Nollekens, but left to study with John Keyse Sherwin
and at the Royal Academy
. After three years he left to live off his drawing skills. He gave up his topographical drawing and acting ambitions to compile Antiquities of London and its Environs which was later described as his favourite work. Smith became known as "Antiquity Smith".
Smith published books of engravings and worked as a drawing master in Edmonton
. In 1807 he published Antiquities of Westminster which has been described as his major work. The work had been inspired by paintings found during extension work to the House of Parliament on 11 August 1800. Smith and Charles Gower were invited to see the pictures, and Smith was able to obtain permission to sketch them. He had to work early in the morning to avoid the workmen. It is said that they frequently demolished what he had just finished sketching and he kept this work up constantly for six weeks. After this his permission was transferred to an artist from the Society of Antiquaries
, but Smith had a complete record by that time. The published book contained over a hundred drawings of antiquities in Westminster that were no longer standing.
Smith had a very public row between 1807 and 1809 following a failed partnership with John Sidney Hawkins. They had planned to work together on a book, with illustrations by Smith and an accompanying text by Hawkins. However the partners fell out and Hawkins went on to publish the book alone; he included an explanation of Smith's absence. Smith published a reply and this was followed by a refutation by Hawkins. Finally 62 additional pictures were published separately after the publication.
Between 1810 and 1815, Smith created drawings and engravings of notable beggars in London and published The Streets of London: Anecdotes of Their More Celebrated Residents.
Smith was offered the position of Keeper of the Prints department of the British Museum
in September 1816 The position still allowed Smith to sketch and draw. His next publication, Vagabondiana, or Anecdotes of Mendicant Wanderers through the Streets of London, had an introduction by Francis Douce
, who had at one time also worked for the British Museum. Douce, Sir William Beechey
and Smith were the executors of Joseph Nollekens' will, and it said that Smith was disappointed by the small legacy he received. His next book was a candid biography called Nollekens and His Times. This book was said to be notable for its "malicious candour and vivid detail". The unkind portrait of Nollekens was also accompanied by short biographies of other leading figures that were better received and are a valuable source for art historians. His biography of William Blake
was the basis of later biographies as his was one of the first and was drawn from first hand experience as after he met Blake they never lost contact.
Smith died from inflammation of the lungs in London leaving Anna Maria (born Prickett) whom he had married 45 years before. In the years following Smith's death in 1833 his executors issued three posthumous works; Cries of London in 1839, edited by John Bowyer Nichols
, Book for a Rainy Day and Antiquarian Ramble in the Streets of London in 1846, edited by Charles Mackay
.
".
Joseph Nollekens
Joseph Nollekens was a sculptor from London generally considered to be the finest British sculptor of the late 18th century. He was also a founder member of the Royal Academy in 1768.-Life:...
that was noted for its "malicious candour" and was a keeper of prints for the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
.
Biography
John Thomas Smith was born in the back of a Hackney carriageHackney carriage
A hackney or hackney carriage is a carriage or automobile for hire...
on 23 June 1766. His mother was returning home to 7 Great Portland Street
Great Portland Street
Great Portland Street is a street in the West End of London. Linking Oxford Street with Albany Street and the busy A501 Marylebone Road and Euston Road, the road forms the boundary between Fitzrovia to the east and Marylebone to the west...
. He was named John for his grandfather and Thomas after his great uncle, Admiral Thomas Smith. Smith's father was at that time a sculptor working for Joseph Nollekens
Joseph Nollekens
Joseph Nollekens was a sculptor from London generally considered to be the finest British sculptor of the late 18th century. He was also a founder member of the Royal Academy in 1768.-Life:...
, but later became a printseller. John Thomas Smith first tried to train as a sculptor with Nollekens, but left to study with John Keyse Sherwin
John Keyse Sherwin
John Keyse Sherwin was an English engraver and history-painter.-Biography:Sherwin was born at East Dean in Sussex...
and at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
. After three years he left to live off his drawing skills. He gave up his topographical drawing and acting ambitions to compile Antiquities of London and its Environs which was later described as his favourite work. Smith became known as "Antiquity Smith".
Smith published books of engravings and worked as a drawing master in Edmonton
Edmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
. In 1807 he published Antiquities of Westminster which has been described as his major work. The work had been inspired by paintings found during extension work to the House of Parliament on 11 August 1800. Smith and Charles Gower were invited to see the pictures, and Smith was able to obtain permission to sketch them. He had to work early in the morning to avoid the workmen. It is said that they frequently demolished what he had just finished sketching and he kept this work up constantly for six weeks. After this his permission was transferred to an artist from the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
, but Smith had a complete record by that time. The published book contained over a hundred drawings of antiquities in Westminster that were no longer standing.
Smith had a very public row between 1807 and 1809 following a failed partnership with John Sidney Hawkins. They had planned to work together on a book, with illustrations by Smith and an accompanying text by Hawkins. However the partners fell out and Hawkins went on to publish the book alone; he included an explanation of Smith's absence. Smith published a reply and this was followed by a refutation by Hawkins. Finally 62 additional pictures were published separately after the publication.
Between 1810 and 1815, Smith created drawings and engravings of notable beggars in London and published The Streets of London: Anecdotes of Their More Celebrated Residents.
Smith was offered the position of Keeper of the Prints department of the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
in September 1816 The position still allowed Smith to sketch and draw. His next publication, Vagabondiana, or Anecdotes of Mendicant Wanderers through the Streets of London, had an introduction by Francis Douce
Francis Douce
Francis Douce was an English antiquary.-Biography:Douce was born in London. His father was a clerk in Chancery. After completing his education he entered his father's office, but soon quit it to devote himself to the study of antiquities...
, who had at one time also worked for the British Museum. Douce, Sir William Beechey
William Beechey
Sir Henry William Beechey , English portrait-painter, was born at Burford, the son of William Beechey and Hannah Read ....
and Smith were the executors of Joseph Nollekens' will, and it said that Smith was disappointed by the small legacy he received. His next book was a candid biography called Nollekens and His Times. This book was said to be notable for its "malicious candour and vivid detail". The unkind portrait of Nollekens was also accompanied by short biographies of other leading figures that were better received and are a valuable source for art historians. His biography of William Blake
William Blake
William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
was the basis of later biographies as his was one of the first and was drawn from first hand experience as after he met Blake they never lost contact.
Smith died from inflammation of the lungs in London leaving Anna Maria (born Prickett) whom he had married 45 years before. In the years following Smith's death in 1833 his executors issued three posthumous works; Cries of London in 1839, edited by John Bowyer Nichols
John Bowyer Nichols
-Life:The eldest son of John Nichols, by his second wife, Martha Green , he was born at Red Lion Passage, Fleet Street, London, 15 July 1779...
, Book for a Rainy Day and Antiquarian Ramble in the Streets of London in 1846, edited by Charles Mackay
Charles Mackay
Charles Mackay was a Scottish poet, journalist, and song writer.-Life:Charles Mackay was born in Perth, Scotland. His father was by turns a naval officer and a foot soldier; his mother died shortly after his birth. Charles was educated at the Caledonian Asylum, London, and at Brussels, but spent...
.
Rule of thirds
Smith's 1797 work Remarks on Rural Scenery contains what appears to be the earliest reference to the compositional "rule of thirdsRule of thirds
The rule of thirds is a compositional rule of thumb in visual arts such as painting, photography and design.The rule states that an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines, and that important...
".
Works include
- Antiquities of Westminster, 1807
- Nollekens and his Times. 2 volumes 1829
- The Streets of London: Anecdotes of Their More Celebrated Residents.
- Vagabondiana, or Anecdotes of Mendicant Wanderers through the Streets of London,
- Book for a Rainy Day: or, Recollections of the Events of The Last Sixty-Six Years