Charles Harriott Smith

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The capital of Nelson's Column

Charles Harriott Smith (1792–1864) was an English architect and architectural sculptor involved in several prestigious projects, ranging from the National Gallery to the Houses of Parliament. His iconic works include the capital of Nelson's Column supporting the statue by Edward Hodges Baily.

His work was influenced by Johann Joachim Winckelmann and architectural work was largely in the Neo-Hellenic style. Despite his undisputed contribution to London's architecture he tends to be a little-known figure.

Life[edit]

Portico of University College London
Portico of National Gallery
Portico of Royal Exchange
Bridgewater House

He was born in London on 1 February 1792, the son of Joseph Smith, a monumental sculptor with premises at 5 Portland Road near Regents Park. Charles left school in 1804 to start an apprenticeship in his father's yard. During his time there he met and befriended Joseph Bonomi (who presumably used the stone yard for supplies or for sculptors). Bonomi encouraged Charles to join the Royal Academy School in 1814. There he won the Gold Medal for Architecture in 1817. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1809 to 1823.[1]

He studied geology, mineralogy and chemistry and was an expert on stone in a manner which greatly benefited the durability of his work.[2] Due to this expertise, Sir Charles Barry consulted him on the project to rebuild the Houses of Parliament to chose stone most likely to survive the centuries. Smith and Barry formed part of the Royal Commission charged with sourcing sufficient building stone of the same type and quality to befit this huge project. This involved a tour of British quarries and of some of the better preserved abbeys and cathedrals of the country. They (and the two other geologists on the Commission: Henry de la Beche and William Smith) ultimately chose a Yorkshire Magnesian Limestone from a large quarry at Anston.[3][4]

There is reference to his also being involved with hothouse design.[5]

From 1851 he lived at 29 Clipstone Street, Fitzroy Square in London. In 1855 he was elected a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

He died at 24 Hatton Garden in London, where he had lived since 1861, on 27 October 1864.[6]

Principal works[edit]

Funerary work[edit]

Other works[edit]

Publications by Smith[edit]

  • Lithology or Observations on Stones used for Buildings (1842)

Family[edit]

He married as his second wife, Fanny Riviere, daughter of Daniel Riviere, both distinguished miniaturists. Their children included:

  • William Riviere Smith (1806-1876) an artist
  • Henry Parsons Riviere Smith (1811-1888) a watercolorist
  • Robert Riviere Smith (1808-1882) a book-binder
  • Percy Gordon Smith, architect

References[edit]

  1. ^ Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851 by Rupert Gunnis
  2. ^ "Charles Harriott Smith - Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951".
  3. ^ Lott, Graham K.; Richardson, Christine (1997). "Yorkshire stone for building the Houses of Parliament (1839–c.1852)". Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society. 51 (4): 265–272. doi:10.1144/pygs.51.4.265.
  4. ^ Stones of Science: Charles Harriot Smith and the Importance of Geology in architecture by E J Gillin
  5. ^ "Charles Harriot Smith".
  6. ^ ODNB: Charles Harriott Smith
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