Smetham, James, 1821-1889

James Smetham (1821-1899) was an English artist, engraver, essayist, and poet associated with Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Ruskin, and the pre-Raphaelite movement.

From the description of James Smetham papers, 1853-1899 [manuscript]. WorldCat record id: 26271868

From the guide to the James Smetham Papers, 1853-1899, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Rare Book Literary and Historical Papers.)

English painter and essayist.

From the description of Autograph letters signed (10) : Stoke Newington, to William Knight, 1863 Sept. 6-1865 Oct. 24. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270664167

James Smetham was born in Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, in 1821 and educated in Leeds. He began his career apprenticed to an architect but left to make his living painting portraits in Shropshire. In 1843 he went to London and entered the Academy School but left before completing the course and returned to itinerate portrait painting. In 1851 he became drawing teacher at the Wesleyan Normal College, Westminster, where he remained until his final illness. He married Sarah Goble, another teacher from the College, in 1854, and they had six children. In 1877 he suffered a final breakdown and lived in seclusion until his death in 1889. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery. His early work has been compared to William Blake and he was a Pre-Raphaelite associate numbering John Ruskin and Charles Gabriel Dante Rossetti among his admirers and friends. Religion was as important to him as art, he regularly attended Saturday and Sunday services and was a Methodist class leader. After his death his widow collaborated with William Davies (c1830-1897), a lifelong friend of Smetham and his family, on an edition of her husband's letters.

From the guide to the SMETHAM, James (1821-1889), 1853-1877, (Queen Mary, University of London)