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Joseph Smith
18th-century British consul, collector and patron of Canaletto
Joseph Smith (1682–1770) moved to Venice in 1700 to take up a position with a merchant banking firm, then lived in the city for the rest of his life, serving as Consul from 1744-60, and again in 1766. He spoke fluent Italian, ran the Pasquali Press, one of the city's top publishing houses, adored music (he married soprano Catherine Tofts, who helped introduce Italian opera to London, in 1705), but most of all made his mark as a connoisseur, art collector and go-between in Venice for British visitors.
Smith bought a medieval palazzo on the Grand Canal. He had Antonio Visentini remodel it to 18th century taste and filled with an extraordinary trove of art, that become one of the main sights on the Grand Tour. Robert Adam and James Boswell were among his guests.
Image by Vaghestelledellorsa, Paolo Steffan, Creative Commo