- In full:
- Matthew Arnold Bracy Smith
- Born:
- October 22, 1879, Halifax, Yorkshire, England
- Died:
- September 29, 1959, London (aged 79)
- Movement / Style:
- Fauvism
Sir Matthew Smith
-
Who was Sir Matthew Smith?
Sir Matthew Smith (1879–1959) was an English painter known for his colorful still lifes, flowers, portraits, nudes, and landscapes of Cornwall and the south of France. His bold use of color is typically associated with Fauvism.
After disliking work at his family's wire factory, Smith studied design and fine art before moving to France. There, he briefly studied with Henri Matisse, where he presumably acquired his taste for bold coloration. After serving in World War I, Smith befriended Irish painter Roderic O’Conor, who had a close relationship with Paul Gauguin; O’Conor subsequently became an important influence on Smith’s style, especially landscapes. Smith returned to London in 1940 and painted portraits of artists, actors, and writers. He exhibited frequently and was knighted in 1954.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What type of art did Sir Matthew Smith create?
Sir Matthew Smith, an English painter born in 1879, is known for his colorful still lifes, flowers, portraits, nudes, and landscapes of Cornwall, England, and the South of France. His style, characterized by bold colors, links him to Fauvism. After studying art in Manchester and London, Smith moved to France in 1908 and, in 1910, briefly studied with Henri Matisse, which seemingly influenced his use of strong colors. Post-World War I, his style evolved further through his friendship with Irish painter Roderic O’Conor, who was closely affiliated with Paul Gauguin, especially regarding landscapes.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are some notable features of Sir Matthew Smith's painting style?
Sir Matthew Smith, an English painter born in 1879, is known for his colorful still lifes, flowers, portraits, nudes, and landscapes of Cornwall, England, and the south of France. He is typically associated with Fauvism because of his use of bold colors in his compositions.
After World War I, Smith met Irish painter Roderic O’Conor, who had a close relationship with Paul Gauguin and worked in the Post-Impressionist style. O’Conor became one of the leading artistic influences on Smith’s developing style, especially regarding landscapes. In 1940, Smith returned to London, where he painted figure compositions and portraits.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are some famous paintings by Sir Matthew Smith?
Sir Matthew Smith (1879-1959) was an English painter known for his bold use of color in still lifes, landscapes, portraits, and nudes, often associated with Fauvism.
Some of his notable works include landscapes such as Cornish Church and A Winding Road, Cornish Landscape (1920), which feature deep, rich colors and defined lines. Throughout his career, Smith also painted figure compositions and portraits, including those of actress Jean Simmons (c. 1948–49) and writer Roald Dahl (c. 1944).
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How was Sir Matthew Smith influenced by other artists or art movements?
Sir Matthew Smith, an English painter known for his bold use of color, is often linked to Fauvism. A brief period studying with Henri Matisse in Paris in 1910 is presumed to have instilled in him a Fauvist leaning for bold coloration. After World War I, Smith befriended Irish painter Roderic O’Conor, who had worked with Paul Gauguin. O’Conor, working in the Post-Impressionist style, became an important influence on Smith’s developing style, especially regarding landscapes. His landscapes from 1920 featured deep, rich colors and defined lines.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What impact did Sir Matthew Smith have on English art or later painters?
Sir Matthew Smith, born in Halifax, England, in 1879, was an English painter known for his colorful still lifes, portraits, nudes, and landscapes Sir Matthew Smith.
He is typically associated with Fauvism because of his use of bold colors. After World War I, Smith met Irish painter Roderic O’Conor, who had been closely affiliated with Paul Gauguin and was working in the Post-Impressionist style. O’Conor was one of the leading artistic influences on Smith’s developing style, especially with respect to landscapes Sir Matthew Smith.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Sir Matthew Smith (born October 22, 1879, Halifax, Yorkshire, England—died September 29, 1959, London) was an English painter of colorful still lifes, flowers, portraits and nudes, and landscapes of Cornwall, England, and the south of France. He is known for his use of bold colors in his compositions, and for that he is typically associated with Fauvism.
In his teens Smith was guided by his father, a wire manufacturer, to try his hand at industrial work. In 1901, having found no satisfaction after several years in the family wire factory, Smith began studying design at an art school in Manchester, England. In 1905 he moved to London and enrolled at the Slade School of Fine Art. He left England for France in 1908 to paint there. In 1910 he studied briefly in the Paris studio of Henri Matisse, from whom, it is presumed, he acquired the Fauvist penchant for using bold coloration. He married artist Gwen Salmond in 1912, and they had two sons (in 1915 and 1916). Though initially bypassed for military service in World War I due to his poor eyesight, a condition he had dealt with since his youth, Smith was eventually called up to serve in late 1916. He was severely wounded and hospitalized during the war but recovered and was promoted to lieutenant in 1918.
After the war, Smith moved to the outskirts of Paris. In 1919 he met Irish painter Roderic O’Conor. Smith formed an important friendship with O’Conor, who had been closely affiliated with Paul Gauguin and was working in the Post-Impressionist style. O’Conor was one of the leading artistic influences on Smith’s developing style, especially with respect to landscapes. Smith spent some of 1920 in Cornwall in England, painting landscapes that featured deep, rich colours and defined lines (e.g., Cornish Church and A Winding Road, Cornish Landscape, both 1920). That year he also joined the London Group (an association of progressive artists) and began exhibiting with them. Smith met and fell in love with British artist Vera Cunningham in about 1922 and left (but did not divorce) his wife to be with her. Cunningham became the model for many of his nudes of the 1920s and ’30s.
Smith returned to London in 1940. There, in addition to still lifes and landscapes, he painted figure compositions and some portraits of artists, actors, and writers, including four of painter Augustus John, actress Jean Simmons (c. 1948–49), and writer Roald Dahl (c. 1944), who was a fan (and owner) of Smith’s work.He had a successful late career in London. He exhibited frequently, twice (1938 and 1950) at the Venice Biennale. In 1949 Smith was made Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) and was knighted five years later.