James David Smillie

Detached Thoughts on Books

James David Smillie's "Detached Thoughts on Books" is an original etching printed upon fine hand-made, laid paper and with full margins as commissioned by Putnam's in New York in 1884 for "Essays of Elia", by Charles Lamb. It is signed within the plate, "J. Smillie, June, 1883". "Detached Thoughts on Books" is a beautiful interior scene, dominated, of course, by books and art, and delineating a contemplative reader. It is a fine, original example of the 19th century art created by the American artist, James D. Smillie.

"To mind the inside of a book is to entertain one's self with the forced product of another man's brain. Now I think a man of quality and breeding may be much amused with the natural sprouts of his own. (Lord Foppington)

An ingenious acquaintance of my own was so much struck with this bright sally of his Lordship, that he has left off reading altogether, to the great improvement of his originality. At the hazard of losing some credit on this head, I must confess that I dedicate no inconsiderable portion of my time to other people's thoughts. I dream away my life in others' speculations. I love to lose myself in other men's minds. When I am not walking, I am reading; I cannot sit and think. Books think for me."

Charles Lamb, Essays of Elia

Detached Thoughts on Books

View other original works of art by the American artist, James David Smillie.

James David Smillie 'James D. Smillie' (New York City, 1833 - 1909)
#	Image	Title & Artist	Medium	Date	Notes	-
01.-		Detached Thoughts on Books by James David Smillie	Original Etching	1883 (Published, 1884)	Signed within the plate, "J. Smillie, June, 1883" to the upper right and bearing his number (24) to the lower left.	Sold
02.-		Lady of Cairo Visiting by James David Smillie	Original Etching	1881	Signed within the plate, "Smillie, N.Y., 1881" to the upper right and "F. A. Bridgman, 1880" to the lower right.
03.-		Old Cedars, Coast of Maine by James David Smillie	Original Etching	1880	Signed in the plate lower left corner by James David Smillie and titled by him to the lower right.	Sold
04.-		The Sun Dial by James David Smillie	Original Etching	1883 (Published, 1884)	Signed within the plate, "J. Smillie, 1883" to the lower left and bearing his number (22) to the lower right.	Sold
05.-		Up the Hill by James David Smillie	Original Etching	1879	Signed by James David Smillie with his characteristic signature in the lower left corner of the plate.	Sold

View other original works of art published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York for "Essays of Elia".

Charles Lamb's the "Essays of Elia"
#	Image	Title & Artist	Artist Info	Medium	Date	-
01.-		A Dissertation upon Roast Pig by Frederick Stuart Church	Frederick Stuart Church 'F. S. Church' (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1842 - New York, 1924)	Original Etching in Sepia	1883 (Published, 1884)
02.-		Blakesmoor by Robert Swain Gifford	Robert Swain Gifford 'Robert Gifford' (Nonamesset, Mass., 1840 - New York, 1905)	Original Etching and Drypoint	1883 (Published, 1884)
03.-		Detached Thoughts on Books by James David Smillie	James David Smillie 'J. D. Smillie' (New York City, 1833 - 1909)	Original Etching	1883 (Published, 1884)	Sold
04.-		Inner Temple Lane by Charles Adams Platt	Charles Adams Platt 'Charles Platt' (New York City, 1861 - 1933)	Original Etching with Plate Tone	1883 (Published, 1884)	Sold
05.-		Oxford by Charles Adams Platt	Charles Adams Platt 'Charles Platt' (New York City, 1861 - 1933)	Original Etching with Plate Tone	1883 (Published, 1884)	Sold
06.-		The Sun Dial by James David Smillie	James David Smillie 'J. D. Smillie' (New York City, 1833 - 1909)	Original Etching	1883 (Published, 1884)	Sold
07.-		Westminster Abbey by Charles Adams Platt	Charles Adams Platt 'Charles Platt' (New York City, 1861 - 1933)	Original Etching with Plate Tone	1883 (Published, 1884)	Sold

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Title:	Detached Thoughts on Books
Artist:	Smillie, James David 'James D. Smillie' (New York City, 1833 - 1909)
Date:	1883 (Published, 1884)
Medium:	Original Etching
Publisher:	G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York
Note:	James David Smillie 'James D. Smillie': An accomplished nineteenth century etcher and painter, James David Smillie studied from the age of nine under his father, James Smillie (1807-1885), a well known engraver. More than any American etcher of his time, James David Smillie became an expert in etching and engraving techniques and his advice was sought after by many etchers and printers throughout the latter half of the nineteenth century. Many of the fine etchings commissioned by "The American Art Review", for example, were printed under James David Smillie's supervision. In the late 1880's, James David Smillie was commissioned by the Smithsonian Institute to create drypoints, mezzotints, soft ground etchings and aquatints as examples for other artists to follow.
	James David Smillie was a founding member of the influential New York Etching Club and later became its president. He also served as president of the American Water Color Society from 1873 to 1879. He was made an Associate of the National Academy in 1865 and elected a full Academician in 1876.
	The large majority of James D. Smillie's original etchings date from 1878 to 1900 and are striking examples of etching processes. Like all Smillie's etchings "Detached Thoughts on Books" bears his oeuvre number in the lower corner: in this case this original etching was the twenty-fourth work of art he created in this medium. It is a beautiful interior scene, dominated, of course, by books and art, and delineating a contemplative reader.
	The English author and essayist, Charles Lamb (1775-1834) first published his "Essays of Elia" in 1823. In 1884 the New York firm of Putnam's issued a new edition. For this new edition the publisher commissioned original etchings from such distinguished American artists as Charles Adams Platt, James Smillie, Frederick Stuart Church and Robert Swain Gifford. J. D. Smillie's "Detached Thoughts on Books" originates from this source.
Edition:	Edition of five hundred impressions
Source:	"Essays of Elia", by Charles Lamb
Size:	4 3/8 X 6 1/2 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Condition:	Printed upon fine hand-made, laid paper and with full margins as commissioned by Putnam's in New York in 1884. Signed within the plate, "J. Smillie, June, 1883" to the upper right and bearing his number (24) to the lower left. A beautifully printed impression and in excellent condition throughout. "Detached Thoughts on Books" represents a prime, original example of the nineteenth century American etched art of James David Smillie 'James D. Smillie'.
Subject:	Books and art, James David Smillie,James D. Smillie, Interior Scene, Reader, Etching, 19th Century American Art
Price:	Sold - The price is no longer available.
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