Robert Smirke
(1753-1845), Painter and illustratorSitter in 8 portraits
Artist associated with 24 portraits
A painter of humorous and sentimental subjects, Robert Smirke became a student of the Royal Academy, London, at the age of nineteen. From 1786, he was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy and was elected a full academician in 1792. During his career, Robert Smirke illustrated such classic novels as 'Don Quixote', the 'Arabian Nights', 'The Hunchback' and many scenes from both Shakespeare and the Bible. Smirke was commissioned by Boydell to produce designs illustrative of Shakespeare's comedies and history plays.
Scene from William Congreve's 'Love for Love'
by James Neagle, published by John Bell, after Robert Smirke
etching, published 20th May 1791
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.31
'The dead shall live, the living die'
by Francis Haward, after Robert Smirke
stipple engraving, published May 1784 (1759-1761)
NPG D14452
King Richard I ('the Lionheart')
by Myers, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, 1789
NPG D23634
by James Heath, after Robert Smirke
stipple and line engraving, 1790
NPG D14988
Lady Jane Grey ('Lady Jane Grey Declining the Crown')
by William Bromley, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, published 1793
NPG D11270
Q. Mary's Escape from Lochleven Castle (Mary, Queen of Scots)
by William Sharp, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, published 1795
NPG D13128
Queen Elizabeth appointing her Successor (Queen Elizabeth I)
by James Neagle, published by Robert Bowyer, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, published 1796
NPG D31839
'Lord W. Russel's last interview with his family'
by George Noble, published by Robert Bowyer, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, published 5 October 1796
NPG D5858
Edward, Prince of Wales ('the Black Prince')
by J. Landster, after Robert Smirke, after Richard Rhodes
engraving, published 1797
NPG D23708
by Thomas Milton, published by Robert Bowyer, after Robert Smirke
etching and engraving, published April 1799
NPG D36345
'The treachery of Colonel Kirke 1685' (Percy Kirke)
by A. Smith, published by Robert Bowyer, after Robert Smirke
stipple engraving, published April 1799
NPG D3497
by William Bromley, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, early 19th century
NPG D23716
'Charles I imprisoned in Carisbrook Castle' (King Charles I)
by George Noble, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, 1800
NPG D32078
'Landing of Mary, Queen of Scots'
by John Dadley, published by Thomas Kelly, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, early 19th century
NPG D13132
Oliver Cromwell suppressing the Mutiny in the Army
by Joseph Thomson, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, published 1801
NPG D28699
'Commemoration of the victory of June 1st 1794'
by Francesco Bartolozzi, and John George Landseer, and Thomas Ryder, and James Stow, published by Robert Bowyer, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, published 1802
NPG D15177
'Commemoration of the victory of June 1st 1794'
by Francesco Bartolozzi, and John George Landseer, and Thomas Ryder, and James Stow, published by Robert Bowyer, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, published 1802
NPG D17016
'Commemoration of the 11th October 1797'
by George Noble, and by James Parker, published by Robert Bowyer, and published by John Edwards, after Robert Smirke, after John Smart
line engraving, published 1803
NPG D15178
by William Bromley, and by John George Landseer, and by William Satchwell Leney (Lenney), published by Robert Bowyer, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, published 1803
NPG D15815
'Commemoration of the 11th October 1797'
by George Noble, and by James Parker, published by Robert Bowyer, and published by John Edwards, after Robert Smirke, after John Smart
line engraving, published 1803
NPG D17018
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.