A Life Etched in Light: The World of John Raphael Smith John Raphael Smith, born in Derby in 1751, wasn’t simply a painter; he was a pivotal figure who shaped the artistic landscape of late Georgian Britain. His story is one woven with threads of versatility – a painter, a mezzotint engraver of exceptional skill, a shrewd print dealer, and, crucially, a mentor to a generation of artists. While perhaps not always receiving the widespre…