Richard Smith

Painting

1958

© Richard Smith Foundation

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In Tate Britain

Walk Through British Art: 1950

Free entry

Artist: Richard Smith 1931–2016
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: Support: 1520 x 1221 mm
frame: 1538 x 1232 x 40 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Purchased 1972
Reference: T01588

Online caption

Smith produced this painting one year after having completed his studies at the Royal College of Art, London. The scale of the work, emphatic handling of paint and use of bright colours are testament to the influence of large-scale American abstract expressionist painting, first seen in strength in England in a group exhibition at the Tate in 1956. Around the time of the making of Painting Smith was also developing a growing interest in the physical and mental properties of environments generated by the mass media.

Catalogue entry

Richard Smith b.1931

T01588 Painting 1958

Inscribed ‘R. Smith 59’(?) on top canvas turnover on reverse and ‘SMITH 59/PAINTING JAN59/125 GNS’ in centre of back of canvas.
Canvas,60 x 47¾(152.4 x 121.3).
Purchased from Mrs Doris Smith (Grant-in-Aid) 1973.
Coll:Mrs Doris Smith, mother of the artist.

The notes on T01588, T01807 and T10808 are based on a conversation with the artist (5 March 1974).Although ‘Painting1958’ is inscribed twice with the date1959Smith believes that the picture, because of its style and similarity to ‘Rainbow’ 1958 and ‘Somewhere Over’ 1958,was painted the same year, although finishing touches may have been added in January 1959.He told the compiler that he cannot remember ever exhibiting it despite the inscription‘125Gns’.