Jeffrey Smart (1921-2013), artist, was born in Adelaide. After studying in Paris, first at the Académie Montmarte under Fernand Léger and later at La Grande Chaumière, he developed a hyper-real style with suggestions of surrealism. Over many decades, his paintings explored images of people dwarfed by the strong, simple shapes of man-made structures in urban environments. He painted several self-portraits; this drawing relates to a small one included in Philip Bacon’s highly successful 2001 exhibition of the artist’s paintings. From 1963, Smart lived in Arezzo, Tuscany. In 1996, he published Not Quite Straight - A Memoir, a vivid series of snapshots of his transformation from Adelaide art teacher to successful artist and Tuscan signore. Remaining lucid, he kept painting almost until the end of his life.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the Margaret Olley Art Trust 2002
© Estate of Jeffrey Smart
Jeffrey Smart AO (age 80 in 2001)
Margaret Olley AC (2 portraits)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Former NPG Director, Andrew Sayers celebrates the support given to the Gallery by Gordon and Marilyn Darling.
Drawn from some of the many donations made to the Gallery's collection, the exhibition Portraits for Posterity pays homage both to the remarkable (and varied) group of Australians who are portrayed in the portraits and the generosity of the many donors who have presented them to the Gallery.
