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Christopher Webb Smith

October 27, 2023

Christopher Webb Smith (30 May 1793 Camberwell - 18 January 1871 Florence), was an English-born bird painter and public official.[1] After joining the East India Company he was sent to India in 1811, where he remained in various administrative posts until 1842 and is remembered as a “gentleman naturalist” who specialised in ornithology and illustration. He was one of the first to codify the birds of India.

Christopher Webb Smith
Born1793
Camberwell, England
Died1871
Florence, Italy
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Civil servant, amateur naturalist, artist and author
Known forfirst to codify Indian birds
Notable workGame Birds of Hindostan, 1828 Oriental Ornithology, 1829

Life and career edit

Smith was born in 1793 at Camberwell, near London, England. He was the son of Captain Donald McKenzie and Anne McLeod (1771-1840), the daughter of John McLeod 91745 -1786), laird of Rasaay in Scotland. Married Annie Jessie MacKenzie (1806- 1862), the daughter of Captain Donald MacKenzie of Hartfields and a native of Scotland in 1824.

As a boy, he had shown an interest in birds. At the Fitzwilliam college, Dr W. Carey encouraged him to study Indian birds. India, with its abundance of wildlife, provided him with the opportunity to take up a serious study birds as a “gentleman naturalist”. During his years in India, he developed the habit of rising early and going out with his gun, shooting selected specimens and returning home to record their size, weight, habitat and make drawings of them. His exhaustive notes demonstrate that he was a talented naturalist and a fine artist.

Smith passed through the training college of the East India Company at Haileybury and Imperial Service College in 1807 and started his service in India in 1811. There he continued his education at Fort William College in Calcutta, graduating with distinction.[2] He soon rose through the ranks, holding a variety of positions, including: 1814 Assistant to the Magistrate at Etawah; 1815 Acting register of Benares City; 1817 Acting judge and magistrate of Shahabad; 1823 Acting judge and magistrate of Patna; 1833 Officiating session judge of Ghazepoor; 1834 Junior Judge of Sudder Board of Revenue.[3]

In August, 1824 at the home of Charles D’Oyly in Bankipore, Webb Smith married Annie Jessie Smith.[4] In the same year, he was transferred to Patna. In December of that year. The Webb Smiths received his cousin, Elizabeth Jane D’Oyly and her husband, Sir Charles D’Oyly who were on a Christmas tour. Doyly was an English baronet, a senior civil servant with the East India Company and a prolific amateur artist. Webb Smith found that he and D’Oyly shared a common interest in natural history and sketching. The pair became firm friends, ultimately leading to the collaboration in two publications in the field of ornithology. They published two illustrated works, namely Game Birds of Hindostan and Oriental Ornithology.[5] The birds were drawn exclusively by Webb Smith while D’Oyly contributed the foregrounds and backgrounds. The majority of the illustrations are dated and bear the names of both C W. Smith and C. D’Oyly.[6]

From 1827 Smith had been based in Arrah, some 40 miles from Patna, and it is likely that he met Sir Charles D'Oyly there. He became a close friend of D'Oyly, who was related by marriage, and both had served in the Bengal Civil Service. While in India, Smith acquired a reputation as ornithological artist and collaborated in producing two books with Sir Charles D'Oyly - The Feathered Game of Hindostan (1828) and Oriental Ornithology (1829), Smith depicting the birds and the foliage, D'Oyly the background landscapes.[7] Smith may have also influenced some of the artists of local artists of the Patna Qalam school who were employed by Charles D'Oyly.[8]

Smith stayed at the Cape of Good Hope from 1837 until 1839 to recover his health. As a result, he and D'Oyly collaborated on a third volume, The Birds, Flowers, and Scenery of the Cape, and finished 56 plates, though the book was never published.

From 1849 to 1860 Smith worked on a critique of the 300 paintings in Florence's Pitti Gallery. The entire work was lost with the sinking of the steamer Black Prince off the coast of Portugal.

Publications edit

He made hundreds of illustrations of birds, primarily of India and also of the Cape of Good Hope. Webb Smith was one of the first to codify Indian birds.[9] Only a small proportion of those images were published in books.

  • Feathered Game of Hindostan, Patna, 1828 with text by Charles Williamson, illustrations by Charles D’Oyly and Christopher Webb Smith[10]
  • Oriental Ornithology, Behar Lithographic Press, Patna, 1829 – with text by Charles Williamson and illustrations by Charles D’Oyly and Christopher Webb Smith [11]

Collections edit

• A collection of approximately 295 watercolour paintings of birds now in Balfour and Newton Library, Cambridge.[12] • A collection of 500 + water colour paintings of African and Indian birds and scenes now in the Department of Zoology, Cambridge University[13]

Bibliography edit

  • Christopher Webb Smith: An Artist at the Cape of Good Hope, 1837-1839, by A. Gordon-Brown. Cape Town: H. Timmins; 1965.
  • From Merchants to Emperors: British Artists in India, 1757-1930, by Pratapaditya Pal and Vidya Dehejia. Cornell University Press; 1987.
  • Splendid Plumage: Indian birds by British artists, by Jagmohan Mahajan; with descriptions of birds by Bikram Grewal. Hong Kong: Local Colour Limited; 1965.

References edit

  1. ^ . Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  2. ^ . Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  3. ^ The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Miscellany,” Vol. 2, Third Series, 1844, p. 391
  4. ^ Webb, D. and Webb, R., The Anglo-Florentines: The British in Tuscany, 1814-1860, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2019, p. 33
  5. ^ Webb, D. and Webb, R., The Anglo-Florentines: The British in Tuscany, 1814-1860, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2019, p. 33
  6. ^ ”Christopher Webb Smith” in Biographical Database of Southern African Science”, http://www.s2a3.org.za/bio/Biograph_final.php?serial=2626
  7. ^ . Archived from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  8. ^ Rekha, Neel (2011). "The Patna school of painting: a brief history (1760-1880)". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 72: 997–1007. JSTOR 44146791.
  9. ^ Pratapaditya Pal, Vidya Dehejia,, From Merchants to Emperors: British artists and India, 1757-1930, Cornell University Press, 1986, p. 144
  10. ^ Mahajan, J and Grewal, B., Splendid Plumage: Indian Birds by British Artists, Timeless Books, 2001, p. 65; Webb, D and Webb, T., The Anglo-Florentines: The British in Tuscany, 1814-1860, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2019, p. 33
  11. ^ Webb, D and Webb, T., The Anglo-Florentines: The British in Tuscany, 1814-1860, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2019, p. 33; Archer, M., British drawings in the India Office Library, Volume 3, India Office Library, H.M.S.O., 1969, p. 134
  12. ^ Grewal, B., “Flock music: A Pioneer’s Body of Work,” Mumbai Mirror, 8 July 2018, Online: https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/leisure/flock-music-a-pioneers-body-of-work/articleshow/64900151.cms
  13. ^ Webb Smith Collection, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, https://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/about-us/library/special-collections/webb-smith-collection

October 27, 2023
christopher, webb, smith, 1793, camberwell, january, 1871, florence, english, born, bird, painter, public, official, after, joining, east, india, company, sent, india, 1811, where, remained, various, administrative, posts, until, 1842, remembered, gentleman, n. Christopher Webb Smith 30 May 1793 Camberwell 18 January 1871 Florence was an English born bird painter and public official 1 After joining the East India Company he was sent to India in 1811 where he remained in various administrative posts until 1842 and is remembered as a gentleman naturalist who specialised in ornithology and illustration He was one of the first to codify the birds of India Christopher Webb SmithBorn1793Camberwell EnglandDied1871Florence ItalyNationalityBritishOccupation s Civil servant amateur naturalist artist and authorKnown forfirst to codify Indian birdsNotable workGame Birds of Hindostan 1828 Oriental Ornithology 1829Contents 1 Life and career 2 Publications 2 1 Collections 3 Bibliography 4 ReferencesLife and career editSmith was born in 1793 at Camberwell near London England He was the son of Captain Donald McKenzie and Anne McLeod 1771 1840 the daughter of John McLeod 91745 1786 laird of Rasaay in Scotland Married Annie Jessie MacKenzie 1806 1862 the daughter of Captain Donald MacKenzie of Hartfields and a native of Scotland in 1824 As a boy he had shown an interest in birds At the Fitzwilliam college Dr W Carey encouraged him to study Indian birds India with its abundance of wildlife provided him with the opportunity to take up a serious study birds as a gentleman naturalist During his years in India he developed the habit of rising early and going out with his gun shooting selected specimens and returning home to record their size weight habitat and make drawings of them His exhaustive notes demonstrate that he was a talented naturalist and a fine artist Smith passed through the training college of the East India Company at Haileybury and Imperial Service College in 1807 and started his service in India in 1811 There he continued his education at Fort William College in Calcutta graduating with distinction 2 He soon rose through the ranks holding a variety of positions including 1814 Assistant to the Magistrate at Etawah 1815 Acting register of Benares City 1817 Acting judge and magistrate of Shahabad 1823 Acting judge and magistrate of Patna 1833 Officiating session judge of Ghazepoor 1834 Junior Judge of Sudder Board of Revenue 3 In August 1824 at the home of Charles D Oyly in Bankipore Webb Smith married Annie Jessie Smith 4 In the same year he was transferred to Patna In December of that year The Webb Smiths received his cousin Elizabeth Jane D Oyly and her husband Sir Charles D Oyly who were on a Christmas tour Doyly was an English baronet a senior civil servant with the East India Company and a prolific amateur artist Webb Smith found that he and D Oyly shared a common interest in natural history and sketching The pair became firm friends ultimately leading to the collaboration in two publications in the field of ornithology They published two illustrated works namely Game Birds of Hindostan and Oriental Ornithology 5 The birds were drawn exclusively by Webb Smith while D Oyly contributed the foregrounds and backgrounds The majority of the illustrations are dated and bear the names of both C W Smith and C D Oyly 6 From 1827 Smith had been based in Arrah some 40 miles from Patna and it is likely that he met Sir Charles D Oyly there He became a close friend of D Oyly who was related by marriage and both had served in the Bengal Civil Service While in India Smith acquired a reputation as ornithological artist and collaborated in producing two books with Sir Charles D Oyly The Feathered Game of Hindostan 1828 and Oriental Ornithology 1829 Smith depicting the birds and the foliage D Oyly the background landscapes 7 Smith may have also influenced some of the artists of local artists of the Patna Qalam school who were employed by Charles D Oyly 8 Smith stayed at the Cape of Good Hope from 1837 until 1839 to recover his health As a result he and D Oyly collaborated on a third volume The Birds Flowers and Scenery of the Cape and finished 56 plates though the book was never published From 1849 to 1860 Smith worked on a critique of the 300 paintings in Florence s Pitti Gallery The entire work was lost with the sinking of the steamer Black Prince off the coast of Portugal Publications editHe made hundreds of illustrations of birds primarily of India and also of the Cape of Good Hope Webb Smith was one of the first to codify Indian birds 9 Only a small proportion of those images were published in books Feathered Game of Hindostan Patna 1828 with text by Charles Williamson illustrations by Charles D Oyly and Christopher Webb Smith 10 Oriental Ornithology Behar Lithographic Press Patna 1829 with text by Charles Williamson and illustrations by Charles D Oyly and Christopher Webb Smith 11 Collections edit A collection of approximately 295 watercolour paintings of birds now in Balfour and Newton Library Cambridge 12 A collection of 500 water colour paintings of African and Indian birds and scenes now in the Department of Zoology Cambridge University 13 Bibliography editChristopher Webb Smith An Artist at the Cape of Good Hope 1837 1839 by A Gordon Brown Cape Town H Timmins 1965 From Merchants to Emperors British Artists in India 1757 1930 by Pratapaditya Pal and Vidya Dehejia Cornell University Press 1987 Splendid Plumage Indian birds by British artists by Jagmohan Mahajan with descriptions of birds by Bikram Grewal Hong Kong Local Colour Limited 1965 References edit The Protestant Cemetery of Florence Called the English Cemetery Archived from the original on 8 September 2012 Retrieved 23 July 2012 Balfour amp Newton Libraries Special Collections Archived from the original on 29 June 2011 Retrieved 22 January 2011 The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Miscellany Vol 2 Third Series 1844 p 391 Webb D and Webb R The Anglo Florentines The British in Tuscany 1814 1860 Bloomsbury Publishing 2019 p 33 Webb D and Webb R The Anglo Florentines The British in Tuscany 1814 1860 Bloomsbury Publishing 2019 p 33 Christopher Webb Smith in Biographical Database of Southern African Science http www s2a3 org za bio Biograph final php serial 2626 Indian Life and Landscape by Western Artists Archived from the original on 25 February 2011 Retrieved 23 January 2011 Rekha Neel 2011 The Patna school of painting a brief history 1760 1880 Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 72 997 1007 JSTOR 44146791 Pratapaditya Pal Vidya Dehejia From Merchants to Emperors British artists and India 1757 1930 Cornell University Press 1986 p 144 Mahajan J and Grewal B Splendid Plumage Indian Birds by British Artists Timeless Books 2001 p 65 Webb D and Webb T The Anglo Florentines The British in Tuscany 1814 1860 Bloomsbury Publishing 2019 p 33 Webb D and Webb T The Anglo Florentines The British in Tuscany 1814 1860 Bloomsbury Publishing 2019 p 33 Archer M British drawings in the India Office Library Volume 3 India Office Library H M S O 1969 p 134 Grewal B Flock music A Pioneer s Body of Work Mumbai Mirror 8 July 2018 Online https mumbaimirror indiatimes com others leisure flock music a pioneers body of work articleshow 64900151 cms Webb Smith Collection Department of Zoology Cambridge University https www zoo cam ac uk about us library special collections webb smith collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Christopher Webb Smith amp oldid 1135753993, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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