John Raphael Smith

Born in Derby, England, in 1751, John Raphael Smith was named after the High Renaissance master Raphael, a nod to the artistic path he would eventually forge. Though he initially apprenticed as a linen-draper, his true calling lay in printmaking. After moving to London in 1767, he quickly established himself, first with miniatures, then turning to engraving. His mezzotint of Pascal Poali, after Henry Benbridge, marked a significant launch to his career, followed by popular w…