SMYTH, JOHN [4]*

Sculptor, of Dublin, for whom see W.G. Strickland, A Dictionary of Irish Artists (1913), II, 390-392, and Paula Murphy, Nineteenth-Century Irish Sculpture:  Native Genius Reaffirmed  (Yale University Press:  New Haven & London, 2010), 49-51 . John Smyth, a son of EDWARD SMYTH EDWARD SMYTH , was born circa 1773. According to Strickland, he 'received instruction at the Dublin Society's School'; he may be the John Smyth who was admitted to the School of Figure Drawing in 1791 and again in 1793 and was awarded a medal in 1794.(1) He worked with his father at 36 Montgomery Street. He exhibited his work on a number of occasions: at the Society of Arts of Ireland in 1809 and 1811, at the Society of Artists of the City of Dublin in 1813, at the Hibernian Society of Artists in 1814, with the Artists of Ireland in 1815,1817 and 1819, and at the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1826, 1830 and 1831.(2) After his father's death in 1812, he was appointed Master of the Dublin Society's School of Modelling, the position previously held by his father. His output consisted of architectural sculpture, monuments and portrait busts. He was also responsible for restoring the statue of William III in College Green after it was blown up in 1836.

John Smyth died in March 1840. He was married and had a large family. His eldest son WILLIAM SMYTH  WILLIAM SMYTH was a sculptor as was his youngest son GEORGE SMYTH[1] GEORGE SMYTH[1] , who was the father of GEORGE SMYTH[2].& GEORGE SMYTH[2].& #160; Strickland considers John Smyth's work to be 'inferior to that of his father', but Potterton argues that he has been underrated as a monumental sculptor: 'His reputation has suffered at the expense of that of his more famous father. Unjustly, for Edward Smyth was extremely poor as a tomb sculptor, whereas John was more than competent.'(3)

RHA: elected associate, 1824, and re-elected 5 May 1830, 'Having forfeited his place through accidental non-compliance with rules'.

Addresses: 36 Montgomery Street, ->=1831;(4) 18 Seville Place, 1839.(5)

See WORKS, for architectural and monumental work only.

References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from Strickland, loc. cit., above.

(1) Gitta Willemson, The Dublin Society Drawing Schools 1746-1876 (2000), 90.
(2) IALE, II, 670, and RHA Index, III, 170.
(3) H. Potterton, Irish Church Monuments 1570-1880, 81.
(4) See note 2, above.
(5) Post Office Dublin Directory (1839).

31 work entries listed in chronological order for SMYTH, JOHN [4]*

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Building:	UNITED STATES, NEWPORT (RHODE ISLAND), TRINITY CHURCH
Date:	1795p
Nature:	Monument to Rev. Marmaduke Brown (d. 1795) signed by 'John Smyth, Dublin'.
Refs:	Information from Peter Howell, Oxford (IAA, Edward McParland files, Acc.2008/44)

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, CASTLE STREET, DUBLIN CASTLE, CHAPEL ROYAL (CI)
Date:	1807p
Nature:	External carving and internal plasterwork.  With Edward Smyth. Completed by JS after ES's death.
Refs:	Viola B.M Barrow, 'Edward Smyth', a talk read to the Old Dublin Society in 1979 and published Dublin Historical Record 52, no. 1 (Spring 1999), 72;  Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005), 359;  Rita Larkin,  '"One guinea per head more": The figurative ornament of Edward and John Smyth' in Myles Campbell & William Derham, eds., The Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle: An Architectural History (Dublin, Office of Public Works, 2015), 55-69(illus.).

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, COLLEGE GREEN, BANK OF IRELAND
Date:	1808a
Nature:	According to DPJ, JS executed statues of Hibernia, Fidelity and Commerce, 'that of Hibernia being modelled by his father, and the other two by the celebrated Flaxman'. Other accounts say that all 3 statues were executed by Edward Smyth from designs by Flaxman. According to Casey statues were carved by Edward and John Smyth were erected on pediment in 1809
Refs:	Dublin Penny Journal I, 15 Dec 1832, 193;  Paula Murphy, Nineteenth-Century Irish Sculpture:  Native Genius Reaffirmed  (Yale University Press:  New Haven & London, 2010), 35;  Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005), 383.

Building:	CO. ANTRIM, LISBURN, CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL (CI, BLARIS & LISNAGARVEY PARISHES)
Date:	1812
Nature:	Monument to Rev. Saumarez Dubourdieu (1717-1812).
Refs:	Homan Potterton, Irish Church Monuments 1570-1880 (UAHS, 1975), 82

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, HARDWICKE PLACE, ST GEORGE'S CHURCH (CI)
Date:	1812-13;1833p;1835p
Nature:	Paid for work on same, 1812-13 (payment may have been for work done by his father who d. in 1812). Medallion relief portrait of Sir Charles Giesecke (d.1833). Memorial to Dr Ephraim MacDowell (d. 1835) with relief.
Refs:	Papers relating to St George's Church, Dublin…Ordered, by the House of Commons, to be Printed, 29 April 1825, 9,20 (copy in IAA, RP.D.130.10); Homan Potterton, Irish Church Monuments 1570-1880 (UAHS, 1975), 81, fig.65.

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, RICHMOND BRIDGE
Date:	1813-16
Nature:	Keystones, representing Peace, Hibernia and Commerce on one side and Plenty, the Liffey & Industry on the other.
Refs:	J. Warburton, J. Whitelaw and R. Walsh, History of the City of Dublin (1818), II, 1093; W.G. Strickland, A Dictionary of Irish Artists (1913), II, 392;  Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005), 695.

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, DAWSON STREET, ST ANN'S CHURCH (CI)
Date:	1813p
Nature:	Memorial tablet to Elizabeth Phibbs.
Refs:	Homan Potterton, Irish Church Monuments 1570-1880 (UAHS, 1975), 81

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, O'CONNELL STREET LOWER, GENERAL POST OFFICE
Date:	1814p
Nature:	Figures of Hibernia, Mercury and Fidelity over portico (now, 2020, replaced by casts; originals in OPW store). Also Royal Arms? (destroyed).
Refs:	J. Warburton, J. Whitelaw and R. Walsh, History of the City of Dublin (1818), II, 1009; IB 14, 1 Nov 1872, 299; W.G. Strickland, A Dictionary of Irish Artists (1913), II, 392; wrongly given to Edward Smyth in Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005), 147.

Building:	CO. KILKENNY, GORESBRIDGE, CHURCH (CI, GRANGE SYLVAE PARISH)
Date:	1814p
Nature:	Monument to Arthur Gore with military trophies and relief of battle of Bergen-op-Zoom.
Refs:	Homan Potterton, Irish Church Monuments 1570-1880 (UAHS, 1975), 82

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, PATRICK STREET, ST PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL (CI)
Date:	1814p
Nature:	Statue of Rt. Hon. George Ogle (d. 1814). 'Smyth's only known portrait statue' (Potterton)
Refs:	W.G. Strickland, A Dictionary of Irish Artists (1913), II, 392; Homan Potterton, Irish Church Monuments 1570-1880 (UAHS, 1975), 81;  illus. in Paula Murphy, Nineteenth-Century Irish Sculpture:  Native Genius Reaffirmed  (Yale University Press:  New Haven & London, 2010), fig. 49.

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, PATRICK STREET, ST PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL (CI)
Date:	1814p
Nature:	Monument to John Boardman (d. 1814) with bas relief of Faith, Hope & Charity. For Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Ireland.
Refs:	W.G. Strickland, A Dictionary of Irish Artists (1913), II, 392; Homan Potterton, Irish Church Monuments 1570-1880 (UAHS, 1975), 81

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, PATRICK STREET, ST PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL (CI)
Date:	1817
Nature:	Monument to John Ball.
Refs:	W.G. Strickland, A Dictionary of Irish Artists (1913), II, 392; Homan Potterton, Irish Church Monuments 1570-1880 (UAHS, 1975), 81

Building:	CO. ARMAGH, ARMAGH, CATHEDRAL CLOSE, CATHEDRAL OF ST PATRICK (CI)
Date:	1818
Nature:	Monument to Rev. Thomas Carpendale (d.1817).
Refs:	James Stuart, Historical Memoirs of the City of Armagh (Newry, 1819), ?; W.G. Strickland, A Dictionary of Irish Artists (1913), II, 392; Homan Potterton, Irish Church Monuments 1570-1880 (UAHS, 1975), 81;  Kevin V. Mulligan, The Buildings of Ireland: South Ulster (2013), 105.

Building:	CO. DOWN, NEWRY, ST MARY STREET, CHURCH OF ST MARY (CI)
Date:	1818p
Nature:	Monument to Acheson Thompson (d. 1818) with full-length figure of religion.
Refs:	Homan Potterton, Irish Church Monuments 1570-1880 (UAHS, 1975), 82

Building:	CO. DOWN, NEWRY, ST MARY STREET, CHURCH OF ST MARY (CI)
Date:	1819
Nature:	Monument to Maj. Gen. Henry Davis, with medallion portrait figure of Fame & military trophies.
Refs:	Homan Potterton, Irish Church Monuments 1570-1880 (UAHS, 1975), 82, fig. 31

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, PATRICK STREET, ST PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL (CI)
Date:	1819p
Nature:	Monument to John Rigby (d. 1819). White marble plaque and sarcophagus on slate pylon with figures of Faith, Hope and Charity
Refs:	Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005), 621.

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, MARLBOROUGH STREET, ST MARY'S PRO-CATHEDRAL (RC)
Date:	1824
Nature:	High relief of Ascension in apse. Cost £150.
Refs:	N. Donnelly, Short histories of Dublin Parishes (1905), Part 12, Section 1, 97;  Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005), 129.

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, HALSTON STREET, ST MICHAN'S CHURCH (RC)
Date:	1825
Nature:	Crucifix with full length figure of Christ over high altar. (Later moved to W end of church.)
Refs:	Clonliffe College Archive, MS p/12

Building:	CO. DOWN, LOUGHBRICKLAND, CHURCH OF ST MELLAN (CI, AGHADERG PARISH)
Date:	1826p
Nature:	JS exhibits 'Part of a Monument intended to be erected in Loughbrickland Church' at RHA, 1826.
Refs:	RHA 1826, no. 395

Building:	CO. DERRY, DERRY, WALKER MONUMENT
Date:	1828
Nature:	9 ft high statue of Walker.
Refs:	Robert Simpson, Annals of Derry (1847), 248; W.S. Ferguson, A.J. Rowan, J.J. Tracey, Historic Buildings…in and near the City of Derry (UAHS, 1970), 16

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, WERBURGH STREET, ST WERBURGH'S CHURCH (CI)
Date:	1829p
Nature:	Monument to Isabella Cash on N side of gallery.
Refs:	Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005), 344.

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, FRANCIS STREET, CHURCH OF ST NICHOLAS OF MYRA (RC)
Date:	1831ca
Nature:	Plaster reliefs of Last Supper and Marriage of the Virgin, left & right of high altar by John Hogan & John Smyth.
Refs:	John Turpin, John Hogan: Irish Neoclassical Sculptor in Rome (Irish Academic Press, 1982), 60(illus.),63(illus.),164-7; Clonliffe College Archive, MS p.1/2; N. Donnelly, Short Histories of Dublin ParishesII, 97;  Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005), 632.

Building:	CO. WEXFORD, FERNS, CATHEDRAL OF ST EDAN (CI)
Date:	1835p
Nature:	Monument to Rev. Thomas Elrington with 'very fine figure of Religion mourning at a medallion portrait of the deceased'.
Refs:	Homan Potterton, Irish Church Monuments 1570-1880 (UAHS, 1975), 81

Building:	CO. DOWN, NEWRY, ST MARY STREET, CHURCH OF ST MARY (CI)
Date:	1836
Nature:	Simple tablet monument to Sarah Hamilton (d. 1836).
Refs:	Homan Potterton, Irish Church Monuments 1570-1880 (UAHS, 1975), 82

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, COLLEGE GREEN, STATUE OF WILLIAM III
Date:	1836p
Nature:	JS restores statue after it was blown up, replacing the head, left arm and leg. Head modelled on bust by Van Nost.
Refs:	W.G. Strickland, A Dictionary of Irish Artists (1913), II, 391;  for the political skirmishing connected with this statue, see Paula Murphy, Nineteenth-Century Irish Sculpture: Native Genius Reaffirmed  (Yale University Press: New Haven & London, 2010), 228-9.

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, WESTLAND ROW, ST ANDREW'S CHURCH (RC)
Date:	1837
Nature:	Statue of St Andrew over pediment.
Refs:	Catholic Directory (1838), ?;  Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005), 452.

Building:	CO. LOUTH, DROGHEDA, PETER'S HILL, CHURCH OF ST PETER (CI)
Date:	1837P
Nature:	Memorial bust of Rev. John Magee (d. 1837).
Refs:	Homan Potterton, Irish Church Monuments 1570-1880 (UAHS, 1975), 81

Building:	CO. LOUTH, DROGHEDA, PETER'S HILL, CHURCH OF ST PETER (CI)
Date:	1837P
Nature:	Memorial bust of John Ball (d. 1813) 'may be confidently attributed ' to JS.
Refs:	Homan Potterton, Irish Church Monuments 1570-1880 (UAHS, 1975), 81

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ST STEPHEN'S GREEN, NO. 123 (ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS)
Date:	?
Nature:	Statues on apex of pediment: Aesculapius supported by Minerva and Hygeia. Royal Arms on tympanum.
Refs:	W.G. Strickland, A Dictionary of Irish Artists (1913), II, 392;  Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005), 484.

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ABBEY STREET LOWER, ROYAL HIBERNIAN ACADEMY
Date:	?
Nature:	Heads of Palladio, Michelangelo and Raphael over door and windows. (Removed during rebuilding in 20th century.)
Refs:	Dublin Penny Journal 4 (1835), 136; W.G. Strickland, A Dictionary of Irish Artists (1913), II, 392

Building:	CO. ARMAGH, GOSFORD CASTLE (MARKETHILL)
Date:	?
Nature:	JS executed architectural sculpture.
Refs:	D. Scott Richardson, Gothic Revival Architecture in Ireland (New York, 1983), I, 152;