John Warwick Smith
Encyclopedia
John "Warwick" Smith was a British watercolour landscape painter and illustrator.
John Smith was born at Irthington
, near Carlisle, Cumberland
, the son of a gardener to the Gilpin family, and was educated at St. Bees
. The fortunate social connection allowed him to study art under the animal painter Sawrey Gilpin
.
Becoming known as a skilful topographical draughtsman, he was employed upon Samuel Middiman's Select Views in Great Britain, and obtained the patronage of George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick
, which enabled him to travel to Italy
between 1776 and 1781. While there he met other British artists such as Francis Towne
, Thomas Hearne
and William Pars
. He came to be known as 'Warwick' or 'Italian' Smith.
In his subsequent works, which were largely views in Italy, he gradually abandoned the simple tinting to which watercolour work had hitherto been limited for a more effective mode of colouring, the novelty and beauty of which created much admiration.
Smith joined the Watercolour Society
in 1805, and was a major contributor to its exhibitions from 1807 to 1823, when he resigned his membership. He was elected president in 1814, 1817, and 1818, secretary in 1816, and treasurer in 1819, 1821, and 1822.
Of his engraved works, which are numerous, the most important are: 'Select Views in Italy' (1792–6); 'Views of the Lakes of Cumberland’, twenty aquatints by James Merigot (1791–5); illustrations to William Byrne's 'Britannia Depicta'; William Sotheby
's 'Tour through Wales' (1794), and 'A Tour to Hafod' (1810).
Smith died in Middlesex Place, London
, on 22 March 1831, and was interred in the St. George's burial-ground in the Uxbridge Road.
Life and work
Irthington
Irthington is a village and civil parish within the City of Carlisle district in Cumbria, England, situated to the north-east of Carlisle Lake District Airport...
, near Carlisle, Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, the son of a gardener to the Gilpin family, and was educated at St. Bees
St. Bees School
St. Bees School is a co-educational independent school in the West Cumbrian village of St Bees. Founded in 1583 by the then Archbishop of Canterbury Edmund Grindal as a boys' "free grammar school", today it is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference with around 300 pupils aged...
. The fortunate social connection allowed him to study art under the animal painter Sawrey Gilpin
Sawrey Gilpin
Sawrey Gilpin was an English animal painter, illustrator, and etcher who specialised in paintings of horses and dogs. He was made a Royal Academician.-Life and work:...
.
Becoming known as a skilful topographical draughtsman, he was employed upon Samuel Middiman's Select Views in Great Britain, and obtained the patronage of George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick
George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick
George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick, FRS, FSA , styled Lord Greville until 1773, was a British nobleman and politician....
, which enabled him to travel to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
between 1776 and 1781. While there he met other British artists such as Francis Towne
Francis Towne
Francis Towne was a British watercolour landscape painter.-Biography:Towne was born in Isleworth in Middlesex the son of a corn chandler. In 1752 he was apprenticed to a leading coach painter in London, Thomas Brookshead...
, Thomas Hearne
Thomas Hearne (artist)
Thomas Hearne was an English landscape painter, engraver and illustrator. Hearne's watercolours were typified by applying a wash over a clear outline in fine brush, pen or pencil. His techniques were studied by younger artists such as Thomas Girtin and J. M. W. Turner.-Early Life:Thomas Hearne...
and William Pars
William Pars
William Pars was an English watercolour portrait and landscape painter, draughtsman and illustrator.-Life and works:...
. He came to be known as 'Warwick' or 'Italian' Smith.
In his subsequent works, which were largely views in Italy, he gradually abandoned the simple tinting to which watercolour work had hitherto been limited for a more effective mode of colouring, the novelty and beauty of which created much admiration.
Smith joined the Watercolour Society
Royal Watercolour Society
The Royal Watercolour Society is an English institution of painters working in watercolours...
in 1805, and was a major contributor to its exhibitions from 1807 to 1823, when he resigned his membership. He was elected president in 1814, 1817, and 1818, secretary in 1816, and treasurer in 1819, 1821, and 1822.
Of his engraved works, which are numerous, the most important are: 'Select Views in Italy' (1792–6); 'Views of the Lakes of Cumberland’, twenty aquatints by James Merigot (1791–5); illustrations to William Byrne's 'Britannia Depicta'; William Sotheby
William Sotheby
William Sotheby FRS was an English poet and translator.He was born into a wealthy London family, the son of William and Elizabeth Sotheby, and was educated at Harrow School and the Military Academy, Angers, France before joining the army at 17...
's 'Tour through Wales' (1794), and 'A Tour to Hafod' (1810).
Smith died in Middlesex Place, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, on 22 March 1831, and was interred in the St. George's burial-ground in the Uxbridge Road.
Further reading
- Basil S. Long. John (Warwick) Smith (1749-1831) (London, Walker's Galleries, 1920).
- I. Williams, 'John Warwick Smith', in Old Water-Colour Society Club; 24 (1946)
- Matthew Hargraves. Great British watercolors: from the Paul Mellon collection at the Yale (Yale University Press, 2007)) p42 ff.
External links
- Biography ("LARA")
- John Warwick Smith online (ArtCyclopedia)
- Works by Smith (Tate Collection, London)
- Works by Smith (Government Art CollectionGovernment Art CollectionThe United Kingdom's Government Art Collection places works of art in major Government buildings in the UK and around the world to promote British art, culture and history....
) - Works by J W Smith (Art History Reference)
- Smith's Biography and art (handprint.com - scroll down the page)
- Works by John Warwick Smith (Guy Peppiatt Fine Art)
- Tintern Abbey by moonlight (Pencil & watercolour - Christie'sChristie'sChristie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
)