The City of London’s Guildhall Art Gallery will next month mark the 10th anniversary of its reopening with a major exhibition of work by the British colourist, Sir Matthew Smith.
Opening Wednesday 4 November and running until Sunday 31 January 2010, the exhibition will include personal memorabilia, including the artist’s paint box, palette and some of the objects which appear in his pictures.
Vivien Knight, Head of Guildhall Art Gallery, says: “Guildhall Art Gallery is building a reputation for showing the work of Victorian artists like William Powell Frith and G F Watts, but we are delighted to have this opportunity of showcasing such an important aspect of our own collection. Many artists have been impressed by Smith’s intuitive and painterly approach and he has to be regarded as one of the most important British artists of the 20th century.”
The Guildhall Art Gallery Matthew Smith Collection includes more than 1,000 paintings, drawings, watercolours and sketchbooks.
Sir Matthew Smith 1879-1959 A Survey of His Life and Work, Drawn from the Artist’s Studio Collection 4 November 2009 – 31 January 2010 Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard, London EC2V 5AE Mon – Sat 10am – 5pm; Sun 12pm – 4pm www.guildhall-art-gallery.org.uk
