SMITHIA, in botany: A genus of the decandria order, belonging to the diadelphia class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 32d order, Papilionaceae. The calyx is monophyllous and belabated; the corolla winged; the legumen inclosed in the calyx, with three or four joints, and contain as many seeds, which are smooth, compressed, and kidney-shaped. There is only one species, viz. the thomina.

SMITZ (Gaipar), who, from painting a great number of Magdalens, was called Magdalen Smith, was a Dutch painter, who came to England soon after the Restoration. For these portraits sat a woman that he kept, and called his wife. A lady, whom he had taught to draw, took him with her to Ireland, where he painted small portraits in oil, had great success, and high prices. His flowers and fruit were so much admired, that one bunch of grapes sold there for L. 40. In his Magdalens he generally introduced a thistle on the foreground. He had several scholars, particularly Maubert, and one Gawdy of Exeter. Yet, notwithstanding his success, he died poor in Ireland in 1707.