Charles Hamilton Smith

Charles Hamilton Smith (1776-1859) was a British artist, naturalist, and soldier. He is known for his detailed illustrations and watercolors of animals and birds. Working in a variety of mediums, including copperplate engraving and lithography, Smith created beautiful, scientifically accurate depictions of the natural world.

Charles Hamilton Smith Biography

• Born on December 26, 1776 in Flanders, Belgium.
• From an early age, he showed an interest in painting and natural science.
• While pursuing his military career, he taught himself art and natural history.
• He served in the Napoleonic Wars, fighting in various locations.
• After retiring from the military, he devoted himself to natural history research and art production.
• He has worked in a wide range of fields, including zoology, botany, archaeology and military history .
• He died in Plymouth on September 20, 1859, aged 82.

Representative works

• The Natural History of the Human Species (1848)
• "Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa" ​​(1838-1849)
• "Costume of the Army of the British Empire" (1812-1815)

Smith's style and achievements

Smith's work is characterised by realistic detail and scientific accuracy. He meticulously captures the morphology of animals and birds, the texture of their fur and feathers, and the surrounding environment . His work not only contributes to the study of natural history, but is also highly regarded by art lovers for its artistic quality .

Smith used a wide variety of media to paint animals, birds, landscapes, and historical costumes. His work is also significant in that it combines natural science and art. He was an artist with great powers of observation and description, and his work contributed greatly to the development of natural history in the 19th century.