John Smart (1742/43 - 1811) United Kingdom
Antique Hand Painted Miniature Portrait Plaque by John Smart
Measure 1 1/4"in H x 1"in W and 3"in H x 2 1/2"in W with frame

Biography: In 1755, at the age of fourteen, John Smart began to enter pencil and chalk drawings for prizes at the Society of Arts. After coming in second to Richard Cosway in the first competition, he went on to secure first prize in the following three. The 18th Century was a highly prosperous period for the miniature painter, and witnessed the success of Cosway and Engleheart to name just two. During the 1760s, Smart was a rival to the equally young Richard Cosway but his miniatures are markedly different; although both artists were painting portraits on a similar scale, Cosway opted for a more virtuoso style of painting, which he executed with a lightness of touch. Smart, however, embraced a more delicate, meticulous style and his sitter's costumes tend to be more restrained. His confidence and desire for recognition can be gauged by his initials appearing on even his earliest works, followed by a date. John Smart continued to gain much fame for his miniatures, moving to India in 1785 to secure new, wealthy clients. He came back to London in 1795 and quickly re-established himself as one of the most talented miniaturists in the country, exhibiting many works at the Royal Academy. He died after a short illness at his home in Russell Place, Fitzroy Square, London on May 1, 1811.

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