Oil paint on canvas
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/sir-matthew-smith-1958" aria-label="More by Sir Matthew Smith" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Sir Matthew Smith</a>
Still Life
Presented by Sir Matthew and Lady Smith 1943, in memory of A/Sq. Ldr F.M. Smith, killed on active service 1940, and Sq. Ldr C.D. Smith DFC, killed in air combat 1941
anemone
basket
clothing and personal items
drapery
food and drink
fruit - non-specific
furnishings
objects
plants and flowers
table
vase
vessels and containers
<p>In the 1930s Smith lightened the colours of his painting. This was in contrast to the sometimes impenetrable reds and browns he had used earlier. This still life is based on the weird mauve colour of the anemone flowers in the basket at the left. In some places the paint is thin, so that the white ground shines through as in a watercolour. The design is like a still life by Cézanne, but Smith's fluid brushstrokes suggest the liveliness of the fruit.This is one of Smith's largest still lifes. He and his wife chose it to present to the Tate Gallery during the war, as a memorial to their two sons, their only children, both killed while serving with the Royal Air Force.</p><p><em>Gallery label, September 2004</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
Still Life
support: 806 × 997 mm
Presented by Sir Matthew and Lady Smith 1943, in memory of A/Sq. Ldr F.M. Smith, killed on active service 1940, and Sq. Ldr C.D. Smith DFC, killed in air combat 1941
<p>In the 1930s Smith lightened the colours of his <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>painting</span></a>. This was in contrast to the sometimes impenetrable reds and browns he had used earlier. This <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/s/still-life" title="Glossary definition for 'Still life'"><span>still life</span></a> is based on the weird mauve colour of the anemone flowers in the basket at the left. In some places the paint is thin, so that the white ground shines through as in a <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/w/watercolour" title="Glossary definition for 'Watercolour'"><span>watercolour</span></a>. The design is like a still life by Cézanne, but Smith's fluid brushstrokes suggest the liveliness of the fruit.</p><p>This is one of Smith's largest still lifes. He and his wife chose it to present to the Tate Gallery during the war, as a memorial to their two sons, their only children, both killed while serving with the Royal Air Force.</p>
Display caption
2004-09-02T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
<p><b>N05401</b> STILL LIFE <i>c.</i> 1936</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Not inscribed.
<br/>Canvas, 31 3/4×39 1/4 (85×100).
<br/>Presented by Sir Matthew and Lady Smith 1943 in memory of their sons A./Sq. Ldr. F. M. Smith, killed on active service 1940, and Sq. Ldr. C. D. Smith, killed in air combat 1941.
<br/><i>Exh:</i> Tate Gallery, September–October 1953 (59); R.A., October–December 1960 (202).</p>
<p>In the Tate exhibition catalogue, 1953, this <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>painting</span></a> was dated <i>c.</i>
1936.</p>
<p><b>Published in:</b>
<br/>Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, <i>The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture</i>, London 1964, II
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-10-07T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
anemone basket clothing and personal items drapery food and drink fruit - non-specific furnishings objects plants and flowers table vase vessels and containers