Robert Smirke (painter)

Robert Smirke RA ( born April 15, 1753 at Wigton Carlisle, United Kingdom, † January 5, 1845 in London) was a British painter.

Life and work

Robert Smirke was the son of an eccentric artist traveling the world. The move of his father in 1766 he came to London, where he began to work with an artist named Bromley and on November 30, 1772 took up his studies at the Royal Academy of Arts. In 1775 he was inducted into the Society of Artists, and in 1791 elected a member of the Royal Academy of Arts. His nomination for the Academy keeper as the successor of Joseph Wilton was of George III. rejected because of his regarded as too revolutionary opinions in favor of Henry Fuseli.

Many images are Smirke in relatively small formats and monochrome designed, which facilitated the creation of engravings. Several well-known galleries are owned by Smirke's works, the Tate Gallery, the Guildhall Art Gallery and the Courtauld Institute of Art

Smirke had four sons and at least one daughter. 1778 was his first-born Richard to the world, in 1779 the daughter of Mary Smirke, 1780 later known architect Robert, Edward 1795 1798 Sydney, who also became an architect later. His grave is located in Kensal Green Cemetery in London.