Colvin Smith
Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey, 1773 - 1850. Judge and critic
-
National Galleries of Scotland collection. Photo, National Galleries of Scotland.
Colvin Smith, Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey, 1773 - 1850. Judge and critic
About this artwork
Francis Jeffrey was a young lawyer when he became one of the co-founders of the influential magazine, the Edinburgh Review. He was editor from 1803 to 1829 and also a contributor, most famously as the literary critic who failed to appreciate the romantic sensibility of poets like Wordsworth or Byron. The liberal stance of the Edinburgh Review in politics and economics reflected Jeffrey's own sympathies. He became a politician in 1820 and, when the election of 1830 brought the whigs to power, he was appointed Lord Advocate. In this role he had considerable responsibility for the Scottish Reform Bill of 1832 which increased the electorate from 4000 to 65000. Contemporaries believed that Colvin's portrait captured Jeffrey's lively and intelligent features.
Updated before 2020
- Artist:
- Colvin Smith (1795 - 1875) Scottish
- Title:
- Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey, 1773 - 1850. Judge and critic
- Date:
- About 1825
- Materials:
- Oil on canvas
- Measurements:
- 91.40 x 72.40 cm; Framed: 121.50 x 101.50 x 10.50 cm
- Object type:
- Painting
- Credit line:
- Miss Brown of Waterhaughs Bequest 1897
- Accession number:
- PG 569
- Gallery:
- In Storage
- Depicted:
- Francis Jeffrey
- Subjects:
- Politics and government The law
True colours
Colvin Smith
Smith was born in Brechin, Angus. From a well-to-do family, he attended the Royal Academy Schools in London and studied under Joseph Nollekens before going to Italy. On his return journey, Smith travelled via Antwerp, where he made several paintings in the style of Rubens. In 1827 Smith set up as a…
