Christopher Smart - Icon Profile | Alexandria
Christopher Smart (1722-1771), also known as "Kit Smart" or "Kitty," was an English poet whose life and work embodied both the brilliant heights of religious devotion and the challenging depths of mental illness in 18th-century Britain. His journey from celebrated Cambridge scholar to confined asylum patient, coupled with his creation of some of the most innovative religious poetry in the English language, makes him a figure of enduring fascination.
First emerging in London's literary circles in the 1740s, Smart established himself as a prolific writer of prize-winning poems at Cambridge University, where he became known for his quick wit and verbal dexterity. His early career flourished among the coffeehouses and printing houses of Georgian London, where he worked as a hack writer and journalist for various publishers. However, it was during his confinement in St. Luke's Hospital for Lunatics (1757-1763) that Smart produced his most remarkable works: "Jubilate Agno" and "A Song to David."
Smart's "Jubilate Agno," not published until 1939, represents a striking departure from 18th-century poetic conventions. Written during his asylum years, this work combines biblical exegesis with deeply personal observations, including his famous passages about his cat Jeoffry. The poem's unusual structure and ecstatic religious vision have led modern critics to reassess Smart's supposed madness as possibly being a form of intense religious experience. His masterpiece "A Song to David" (1763) synthesizes biblical scholarship with mystical fervor in a way that anticipates the visionary poetry of William Blake and the Romantics.
The poet's legacy continues to intrigue scholars and artists alike, challenging our understanding of the relationship between creativity, faith, and mental health. Smart's work has experienced a remarkable resurrection in modern times, with composers setting his verses to music and poets acknowledging his influence on free verse and religious poetry. His life and work raise persistent questions about the nature of inspiration, the boundaries between religious ecstasy and mental illness, and the role of suffering in artistic creation. In Smart's complex heritage, we find a compelling reminder that genius often defies easy categorization and that great art can emerge from the most challenging circumstances.