{{Short description|Scottish portraitist (1795–1875)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} [[Image:Patrick Grant 1714 - 1824 - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|upright|''Patrick Grant, 1713 - 1824'', 1822, National Gallery of Scotland.]]
'''Colvin Smith RSA''' (1795 – 21 July 1875) was a Scottish portraitist.
==Life== thumb|32 York Place, Edinburgh thumb|The grave of Colvin Smith, Brechin Cathedral Smith was born at Brechin, in Angus, the son of John Smith, a merchant, and his wife, Cecilia Gillies.<ref>Grave of Colvin Smith, Brechin Cathedral</ref> He studied art in London at the Royal Academy Schools and worked in Joseph Nollekens's studio. He then proceeded to work in Italy, where he executed some fine copies after Titian; and at Antwerp he made studies after the works of Rubens.<ref name=e1911/>
Returning to Scotland in 1827, he settled in Edinburgh, occupying the house and studio which had formerly belonged to the Scottish painter Raeburn at 32 York Place.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://digital.nls.uk/83401695|title=Edinburgh Post Office annual directory, 1832-1833|website=National Library of Scotland|access-date=2018-01-18}}</ref> Soon he attained a wide practice as a portrait-painter, and among his sitters were Lord Jeffrey, Henry Mackenzie, author of ''The Man of Feeling'', and many of the most celebrated Scotsmen of the time.<ref name=e1911/>
In 1840 he was living at 32 York Place, Edinburgh. The property was purpose-built as an artist's studio by its predecessor, Sir Henry Raeburn<ref>Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1840</ref>
His portrait of Sir Walter Scott was so popular that he executed some twenty replicas of it, for seven of which he received fresh sittings. His works are distinguished by excellent draftsmanship, by directness and simplicity of treatment, and by well-marked individuality.<ref name=e1911/> His portrait of Thomas Brown of Lanfine and Waterhaughs hangs in the Court Office of the University of Glasgow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hmag.gla.ac.uk/john/huntmin/Lanfine.htm|title=Thomas Brown of Lanfine and Waterhaughs|last=Faithfull|first=John|website=www.hmag.gla.ac.uk|access-date=2018-01-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514042814/http://www.hmag.gla.ac.uk/john/huntmin/Lanfine.htm|archive-date=2013-05-14|url-status=dead}}</ref>
He died in Edinburgh on 21 July 1875.<ref name=e1911>{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Smith, Colvin|volume=25|page=260}}</ref> He is buried with his parents in the churchyard of Brechin Cathedral. The grave lies south of the round tower.
==Influence==
Smith's students included James Irvine, who went on to be one of Scotland's best portrait painters.<ref name=odnb>L. H. Cust, ‘Irvine, James (1822–1889)’, rev. Jennifer Melville, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/14467, accessed 10 Sept 2013]</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Art UK bio}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Colvin}} Category:1795 births Category:1875 deaths Category:19th-century Scottish painters Category:Scottish male painters Category:Scottish portrait painters Category:People from Brechin Category:19th-century Scottish male artists