John Smith

Kneller, Godfrey, after · 1716

Mezzotint portrait on paper of John Smith (1652-1743) after a painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723) dated 1696, engraved and published by Smith in London in 1716. The original painting was made as a gift for Smith and is now in the Tate (N00273). Smith holds a partially rolled mezzotint portrait he made from Kneller's self-portrait of 1694. Smith wears a cap with fur trim, a high-collar shirt and gown while Kneller wears a wig, neckcloth and gown. Smith was a leading London engraver and Kneller a leading portrait painter who in 1689 was appointed Principal Painter to William III and Mary II of England. The two artists enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship, with Smith's 'official' copies of Kneller's paintings bringing both business success to Smith and publicity to Kneller. Of the 280 mezzotint portrait prints made by Smith, about half were after works by Kneller.