Comments on: John Thomas Smith’s Antiquities Of Old London https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/04/27/john-thomas-smiths-antiquities-of-old-london/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Wed, 27 Apr 2022 14:51:11 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 By: gkbowood https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/04/27/john-thomas-smiths-antiquities-of-old-london/#comment-1458631 Wed, 27 Apr 2022 14:51:11 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=191487#comment-1458631 Aren’t these etchings wonderful!? The textures and details are so enthralling and the sagging- oh yes, don’t forget the massive sagging! Loved this post, Thank you.

]]> By: Saba https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/04/27/john-thomas-smiths-antiquities-of-old-london/#comment-1458627 Wed, 27 Apr 2022 14:05:07 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=191487#comment-1458627 I was fascinated by the story of Smith. He worked as an archivist but somehow had enough time to make detailed drawings of historical sites. Because the drawings are careful but often awkward, I had pictured him as an art lover who spent all the time away from his day job drawing. But, no — he was an author, a trained professional artist, and an archivist. Maybe he did have a full-time day job and spent his free time writing and using his art training. Whatever the answer, he was a noble soul who recorded history for those of future generations.

And, then, King Lud. Wow, a whole new door opened to a history or maybe a body of traditions new to me.

]]> By: Lynne Perrella https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/04/27/john-thomas-smiths-antiquities-of-old-london/#comment-1458620 Wed, 27 Apr 2022 12:06:24 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=191487#comment-1458620 The stalwart, the crusty, the upright, the wobbly, the thatched, the mullioned. It’s ALL here.
GA, you’ve given us the “whole nine yards” this morning.
Perhaps…….just maybe……..this noble endeavor to document “all the antiquities of London” inspired our American version? Our Index of American Design was created between 1935 – 1942.
Hundreds-maybe-thousands of artists were put to work, doing faithful renderings of our legacy items, creating a comprehensive overview of all-things-American. Imagine the skill required to
do a faithful watercolor rendering of — lets say — a woven coverlet, or an embroidered sampler, or a carved ship’s figurehead? Initiated for the dual purpose of “putting artists to work” plus establishing a visual archive of our traditional designs — this singular archive abides.
Saluting your grand history — and ours. Stay safe, all.

]]> By: the gentle author https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/04/27/john-thomas-smiths-antiquities-of-old-london/#comment-1458604 Wed, 27 Apr 2022 09:39:41 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=191487#comment-1458604 In reply to Caroline Murray.

Yes, he was apprenticed to Nollekins…

]]> By: Caroline Murray https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/04/27/john-thomas-smiths-antiquities-of-old-london/#comment-1458601 Wed, 27 Apr 2022 09:17:14 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=191487#comment-1458601 Another fascinating selection from Smith’s works. Was he the same John Thomas Smith who wrote a biography of the sculptor Nollekens, with whom he had trained? https://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/arts-theatre-culture/western-art/nollekens-and-his-times-comprehending-life-celebrated-sculptor-and-memoirs-several-contemporary-artists-volume-1?format=PB

]]> By: Maureen https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/04/27/john-thomas-smiths-antiquities-of-old-london/#comment-1458596 Wed, 27 Apr 2022 06:39:45 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=191487#comment-1458596 Superb information as always. I truly love reading your articles. I read them before I read any other messages in the morning. Thank you.

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