Artvee
  • Browse
    • Abstract
    • Figurative
    • Landscape
    • Illustration
    • Posters
    • Religion
    • Mythology
    • Drawings
    • Still Life
    • Animals
    • Botanical
    • Asian Art
  • Books
  • Artists
  • Explore
    • Topics
    • Culture
    • Movements
  • Highlights
  • Collections
  • Galleries
  • Artvee Pro
Login
Artvee
Menu
John Thomas Smith
John Thomas Smith

John Thomas Smith

English, 1766–1833
Follow

John Thomas Smith, also known as Antiquity Smith, was an English 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.

John Thomas Smith was born in the back of a Hackney carriage 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. His father Nathaniel Smith 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".

In 1796 the young John Constable was introduced to Smith, and he became Constable's informal artistic mentor.

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 Houses 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 on 8 March 1833 at his home at 22 University Street, off Tottenham Court Road. He left Anna Maria (born Prickett) – whom he had married 45 years previously – unprovided for, and also an adult son and daughter. He was privately interred on 16 March in the burial grounds of St George's Chapel, near Tyburn turnpike.

In the years following Smith's demise, 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.

53 items

Show 30 50 70
Near Edmonton, Middlesex, Outer Suburb – North

Near Edmonton, Middlesex, Outer Suburb – North

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Landscape
Man Beside a Stile

Man Beside a Stile

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Landscape
Joseph Nollekens R.A. and Mrs. Nollekens; The pair of compasses and the pair of callipers side by side

Joseph Nollekens R.A. and Mrs. Nollekens; The pair of compasses and the pair of callipers side by side

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
In Bury Street, Edmonton, Outer Suburb – North

In Bury Street, Edmonton, Outer Suburb – North (1797)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Landscape
Hogarth Solicits His Patron Bishop Hoadley to Look Over His MS. ‘Analysis of Beauty’

Hogarth Solicits His Patron Bishop Hoadley to Look Over His MS. ‘Analysis of Beauty’ (1817)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Hogarth Sitting to Roubiliac for His Bust

Hogarth Sitting to Roubiliac for His Bust (1817)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Hogarth painting ‘The Lady’s Last Stake,’ in the Presence of Lord Charlemont

Hogarth painting ‘The Lady’s Last Stake,’ in the Presence of Lord Charlemont (1817)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Hogarth Painting in Vauxhall Gardens in the Presence of Jonathan Tyers

Hogarth Painting in Vauxhall Gardens in the Presence of Jonathan Tyers (1817)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Hogarth Painting His Picture of Captain Coram for the Foundling Hospital

Hogarth Painting His Picture of Captain Coram for the Foundling Hospital (1817)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Hogarth Making up a Portrait of H. Fielding, for a Bookseller..

Hogarth Making up a Portrait of H. Fielding, for a Bookseller.. (1817)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Hogarth Having Been Followed by Barry and a Friend was Caught Backing a Boy to Fight Purposely to Catch His Fearful Countenance

Hogarth Having Been Followed by Barry and a Friend was Caught Backing a Boy to Fight Purposely to Catch His Fearful Countenance (1817)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Hogarth Has Made Breakfast and Sends up a Cup to His Wife at the Same Time Ordering the Little Dog to be Admitted to her Mistress’s Bedchamber

Hogarth Has Made Breakfast and Sends up a Cup to His Wife at the Same Time Ordering the Little Dog to be Admitted to her Mistress’s Bedchamber (1817)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Hogarth Engraving His Master’s Shop-bill the Sign of the Angel

Hogarth Engraving His Master’s Shop-bill the Sign of the Angel (1817)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Hogarth Drinking the First Glass of Wine with His Wife – Their Dogs Keeping Respectful Distances

Hogarth Drinking the First Glass of Wine with His Wife – Their Dogs Keeping Respectful Distances (1817)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Hogarth Drawing Sarah Malcolm

Hogarth Drawing Sarah Malcolm (1817)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Hogarth Declaring His Love to Miss Thornhill

Hogarth Declaring His Love to Miss Thornhill (1817_1817)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Hogarth Carrying his Master’s Sick Child Round Leicester Fields. The Spot of Ground Leicester House.

Hogarth Carrying his Master’s Sick Child Round Leicester Fields. The Spot of Ground Leicester House. (1817)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Hogarth Being Out of His Time Draws His Companion’s Figure on the Door of a Certain Place, to the Great Admiration of All His Friends

Hogarth Being Out of His Time Draws His Companion’s Figure on the Door of a Certain Place, to the Great Admiration of All His Friends (1817)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Hogarth at Old Slaughter’s Hobbing with Highmore the Painter

Hogarth at Old Slaughter’s Hobbing with Highmore the Painter (1817)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Hogarth After His Wife had Put on a New Night Shirt, Ties up Her Things to Send to Sir James Thornhill with a Letter…

Hogarth After His Wife had Put on a New Night Shirt, Ties up Her Things to Send to Sir James Thornhill with a Letter… (1817)

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Dr. Messenger Monsey of Chelsea Hospital, 1693-1788

Dr. Messenger Monsey of Chelsea Hospital, 1693-1788

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Drawings
Dr. Johnson’s House in 8 Bolt Court, Fleet Street

Dr. Johnson’s House in 8 Bolt Court, Fleet Street

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Landscape
A Family Cooking Under A Tree

A Family Cooking Under A Tree

John Thomas Smith (English, 1766–1833)
Landscape
  • ←
  • 1
  • 2

0 Artworks
Follow
Facebook Twitter Pinterest
Favourite
Collect

Standard, JPG, Size:

Download

Max Size, JPG, Size:

Download
License: All public domain files can be freely used for personal and commercial projects. .
Why is this image in the public domain?
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact us
Artvee.com 2024 All Rights Reserved
We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies.
More info Accept
  • Sign in
  • Browse
    • Abstract
    • Figurative
    • Landscape
    • Illustration
    • Posters
    • Religion
    • Mythology
    • Drawings
    • Still Life
    • Animals
    • Botanical
    • Asian Art
  • Artists
  • Books
  • Explore
    • Topics
    • Culture
    • Movements
  • Highlights
  • Collections
  • Galleries
  • Artvee Pro