Thomas Stuart Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Stuart Smith
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1874 portrait by Alfred Wilson Cox
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| Born | 1815 |
| Died | 1869 |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | philanthropy |
Thomas Stuart Smith (1815–1869) was a Scottish painter. He was also a kind person who gave money and time to help others. He is best known for starting what is now called the Stirling Smith Museum and Art Gallery in Stirling, Scotland.
Early Life and Art Journey
Thomas Stuart Smith was born in 1815 in Scotland. When he was young, he went to school in France. His father was away doing business in Canada and other places.
In 1831, Thomas thought his father had passed away because his school fees stopped. He returned to England. There, he found out about his uncle, Alexander Smith. His uncle helped him with money from time to time.
Thomas first worked as a tutor, helping students learn. Later, he met an Italian master painter. This meeting made him very interested in art. His uncle Alexander helped him travel to Italy in 1840 to paint and learn more.
By the end of the 1840s, Thomas's paintings were becoming famous. His art was shown at big exhibitions. These included the Salon des Beaux Arts in Paris and the Royal Academy in London. A famous professor named Owen bought his first painting shown at the Royal Academy.
Family and New Beginnings
In 1849, his uncle Alexander Smith passed away. Alexander did not leave a will. This meant many people tried to claim his family's estate. Thomas spent eight years and a lot of money trying to get the estate. He finally took ownership in 1857.
While he waited, Thomas taught art at the Nottingham School of Design. One of his students, James Orrock, said Thomas could paint anything. Thomas was also known by other famous painters. These included artists from the Barbizon School, who painted realistic scenes.
Thomas only kept the estate for six years. He sold it and moved to London. Even though his legal costs were high, he now had money. He used this money to start an art collection in his studio. He decided to create a special place in Stirling for his art.
Creating a Legacy
Thomas planned to build an "Institute" in Stirling. It would have a library, a museum, and a reading room. He offered £5,000 to the local council if they could find a place for it.
In November 1869, he officially set up the trust for the Institute. He named himself, James Barty (the leader of Stirling), and Alfred Wilson Cox (a fellow artist) as trustees. Sadly, Thomas did not see his dream come true. He passed away the next month in Avignon.
Thomas Stuart Smith is mainly remembered for founding the Smith Institute. Today, it is known as the Stirling Smith Museum and Art Gallery. Many of his paintings are also owned by public art collections.
Two of Thomas's most important paintings show black men. At that time, black people in paintings were often shown as servants. But Thomas's paintings, Fellah of Kinneh and The Pipe of Freedom, showed them as strong and free. He painted them to celebrate the end of slavery in America in 1865. This happened after the American Civil War. The Pipe of Freedom shows a man lighting a pipe. Behind him, a notice about selling slaves is partly covered by a notice about ending slavery.
