John Rubens Smith
John Rubens Smith (January 23, 1775 – August 21, 1849) was a London-born painter, printmaker and art instructor who worked in the United States.
Also recorded as John Reubens Smith · John Rubens smith · J. R. Smith
John Rubens Smith

John Rubens Smith · This image is available from the United States Library of Congress 's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID cph.3g05640. This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached · Public domain
- Name
- John Smith
- Born
- January 23, 1775
- Birthplace
- London, England
- Died
- 21 August 1849
- Place of death
- New York City, United States
- Nationality
- United States and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
- Teachers
- John Raphael Smith.
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Documentary summary
John Rubens Smith (January 23, 1775 – August 21, 1849) was a London-born painter, printmaker and art instructor who worked in the United States.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q1701617 · wikipedia · John Rubens Smith
In this article
Biography
Biography
Training under John Raphael Smith is recorded. Sanford Robinson Gifford is recorded as having studied under John Rubens Smith. Work by John Rubens Smith is recorded in the collections of Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale Center for British Art and Print Collection.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — John Smith • Born — January 23, 1775 • Birthplace — London, England • Died — 21 August 1849 • Place of death — New York City, United States • Children — John • Parents — John Smith
Biography
Biography
Smith was born in London where he first studied art with his father, John Raphael Smith, a mezzotint engraver. Smith later studied art at the Royal Academy. • Illustration — Young's Mill on Brandywine Creek Around 1807, Smith emigrated from London to New York City. He depicted the United States in the decades before photography, and influenced a generation of American artists through his drawing academies and drawing manuals. He died in New York City. • Illustration — Merchants Hotel, North 4th Street in Philadelphia His son John Rowson Smith was a moving panorama painter who worked with Richard Risley Carlisle.
Works
Works
• Illustration — Guann's near Fort Smith, Brooklyn • The juvenile drawing-book (1844)
Gallery
Gallery
• Illustration — Beacon Hill, Boston • Illustration — Catskill Mountain-House • Illustration — Officer from First Troop, Philadelphia
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1775
John Rubens Smith born at London.
1849
John Rubens Smith died at New York City.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
London.
Birth place
New York City.
Death place
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q1701617: John Rubens SmithWikimedia Foundation
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
The authorities additionally record the headings John Reubens Smith, John Rubens smith and J. He was the child of John Raphael Smith and Ann Darlow. One child is recorded: John Rowson Smith. Formation and teaching. He trained under John Raphael Smith. Each of those relationships is stated by the authority record rather than inferred from style. Recorded as painter, printmaker, graphic artist and lithographer.
Identity and origins
Recognition and collections
Work by John Rubens Smith is
Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale Center for British Art and Print Collection
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Prints
4,138 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- John PyeEngraver
- John R. SinnockEngraver
- John Raphael SmithEngraver
- John Robert CozensEngraver
- John SaltEngraver
- John Samuel AgarEngraver
- John SartainEngraver
- John ScottEngraver
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