Robert Smith, Amateur

(b. 1792, d. 1882)

Amateur

From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913

Was of Dirleton, Haddingtonshire, but was born in Dublin on 14th September, 1792. He entered the army as ensign in the 44th Regiment in 1809, became captain in 1825 and retired in 1832. He was a clever draughtsman and designer, and when quartered in Ireland exhibited a landscape drawing in the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1827, and four portraits, including one of his son, in 1828. A number of his pencil drawings of Irish scenery and places are in the Victoria and Albert Museum. A port-folio of eighty-three pencil drawings of nude female figures from gems, sculpture, etc., done in 1823 and other years, was in possession of J. Tregaskis of Holborn in 1912. In 1840 Smith was appointed a junior Pursuivant in the office of arms, Dublin Castle, and in 1865, Athlone Pursuivant. He died at his residence in Frankfort Avenue, Rathgar, on 26th November, 1882, in his 91st year, and was buried at Rathfarnham.

He was father of Robert Henry Soden Smith, keeper of the Art Library at South Kensington, who died in 1890.

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