John Smith

1 portrait

John Smith

by Simon de Passe
line engraving, 1616
11 5/8 in. x 13 5/8 in. (295 mm x 346 mm)
Transferred from NPG Reference Collection, 1967
Primary Collection
NPG 4594

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Sitterback to top

John Smith (1580-1631), Soldier and colonist. Sitter associated with 3 portraits.

Artistback to top

Simon de Passe (circa 1595-1647), Engraver. Artist associated with 198 portraits, Sitter associated with 4 portraits.

This portraitback to top

A soldier and colonial governor, Smith sailed on the first English voyage to Virginia. Portraits frequently appeared alongside maps of territories discovered by explorers with inscriptions, as that noted here 'observed and described by Captayn John Smith, 1614'. This portrait shows him aged 37 in the year 1616 and may have been after a miniature.