James D. Smillie 1833-1909

James David Smillie was born in New York City in 1833. Smillie’s father and brother, James and George Smillie, were also artists, known for their engravings and landscape paintings respectively. Though James and George received artistic training from their father, James went on to study at the University of New York and the National Academy of Design. 

Early in his career, Smillie drew and painted scenes from around rural New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, taking inspiration from the natural beauty of the North-Eastern American landscape. In 1871, however, Smillie had the opportunity to travel West to Yosemite, commissioned to write and illustrate a chapter for William Cullen Bryant’s extremely popular Picturesque America. Over several months, Smillie wrote, drew, and painted, completely enamored with the California landscape and lifestyle. 

Upon his return to New York, Smillie was able to settle down and make a name for himself. He became a founding member of the American Watercolor Society and served as its president from 1873-79. Additionally, he helped to form the New York Etching Club and taught at the National Academy of Design from 1894-1903. Smillie lived in New York until his death in 1909.