Hyacinth, 1920
Smith went to Paris in 1910 where he studied at Matisse's (1869-1954) school during the last few weeks before its closure. Thereafter Smith identified very strongly with French art, being influenced in particular by the bold, un-naturalistic colours and opulent forms of the Fauve movement, of which Matisse was a founding member. Smith's luscious nudes and still life flower pieces in particular owe much to Matisse, as this painting exemplifies. Its rich, saturated colours and fluency of line, along with the work's painterly approach, give it a vigour and sumptuousness that echo the older artist's style. Much of Smith's working career was spent in France where he enjoyed a high reputation amongst his English contemporaries. Frank Auerbach (b.1931), who is represented in the Feren's collection, is just one of the many British painters to have admired his work.
