Robin Bolton-Smith

CORNWALL — Robin Bolton-Smith, 73, died June 28, 2015, following a brief hospitalization. At the time of her death, she lived in Cornwall, but before moving to Connecticut she resided in Washington, D.C., for many years. 

Born Oct. 30, 1941, in Washington, Robin attended the Potomac School and graduated from the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pa., in 1959. She received her B.A. from Smith College in Northampton, Mass., in 1963, and received her MFA from the Institute of Fine Arts of New York University in New York City.         

Robin returned to Washington and became an assistant curator at the Smithsonian’s National Collection of Fine Arts (now known as the Smithsonian American Art Museum) and a leading expert on American miniatures. 

She authored an annotated catalog of the works of Lilly Martin Spencer, 1822 to 1902, “The Joys of Sentiment,” and subsequently published “Portrait Miniatures from Private Collections.” 

Robin wrote several articles for Antiques magazine. In 1984, she published “Portrait Miniatures in the National Museum of American Art.” 

In August 1972, the New York Times wrote, “The National Parks and the American Landscape exhibition managed to slip into the National Collection of Fine Arts with less fanfare than it should have attracted — William Truettner and Robin Bolton-Smith, associate and assistant curators of 18th- and 19th-century painting and sculpture, organized the exhibition, wrote the catalog, and are applauded.” 

Robin had a particular love of dogs. She focused on rescuing dogs from local animal shelters and caring for them. At times, she took care of as many as eight dogs simultaneously. 

She became an “institution” in Georgetown, taking care of neighbors’ dogs when they went on vacation, business trips, etc. Robin said that when she meets Saint Peter at the Golden Gate, she only hopes he’ll be accompanied by some of her favorite dogs who predeceased her. 

She is survived by her twin sister, Anne Putzel; and her brothers, Carlile Bolton-Smith and Hardy Patten. In accordance with her request, she will be cremated.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Animal Rescue League in Washington. 

The Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon has charge of arrangements.