Matthew Smith (1879-1959)

Matthew Smith studied at the Manchester College of Technology (1901-05) and at the Slade School (1905-08). From 1908 until the outbreak of the First World War he worked mainly in France, and spent a short period at the Atelier Matisse in Paris. During the war he lived in Fitzroy Street in London, where Sickert was a neighbour. He exhibited regularly with the London Group from 1916, becoming a member in 1920. During the 1920s and 30s Smith lived mainly in France, though exhibiting regularly in London. He moved back to England in 1940.

Smith’s work was exhibited at two Venice Biennales: those of 1938 and 1950. A major retrospective exhibition of his paintings was shown at the Tate Gallery in 1953, and a memorial exhibition of his work was held at the Royal Academy in 1960. He was knighted in 1954.