Harriet Anne Smart facts for kids
Harriet Anne Smart Callow (born October 20, 1817 – died June 30, 1883) was a talented British artist and composer. She is mostly known for her beautiful hymns and her paintings of the British countryside. Her creative works were published using the names Harriet Smart and H. A. Callow.
Early Life and Family
Harriet Callow was born in London, England. Her father, Henry Smart, was a violinist. Her mother, Anne Stanton Bagnold Smart, was a music teacher. Harriet came from a very musical family! Her brother was the famous composer Henry Thomas Smart. Her uncle was Sir George Smart, who was the Queen's organist. This means he played the organ for the Queen.
Harriet studied painting with an artist named William Callow. They later fell in love and got married in 1846.
Life and Contributions
After they married, Harriet and William Callow lived in Buckinghamshire. William Callow wrote about his wife in his autobiography. He said she was a "wonderful pianist and singer." He also mentioned she was "a good linguist," meaning she could speak several languages.
Harriet was very dedicated to helping her community. In the 1850s, she started a school in Buckinghamshire. She taught local workers how to read. She also helped raise money to rebuild a church. This church was in a nearby village called Great Missenden. Harriet Anne Smart Callow passed away on June 30, 1883.
Musical Compositions
Harriet Callow composed several hymns. Hymns are songs of praise, often sung in churches. Here are some of her well-known hymns:
- "How Can We Serve Thee, Lord" (words by Claudia Frances Hernaman)
- "Shine Thou Upon Us, Lord" (words by Reverend John Ellerton)
- "Solitude"
- "Those Who With Dying Lips" (words by Esther Wiglesworth)
Art Collections
Harriet Callow was also a skilled painter. She created many paintings of the British countryside. She often worked with her husband, William Callow. Their paintings are part of these collections:
- Callow Album (by Harriet and William Callow)
- Chiltern Landscapes (by Harriet and William Callow)
