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Angelica Garnett

© the Estate of Sir Matthew Bracy Smith

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Angelica Garnett

by Sir Matthew Smith
oil on canvas, circa 1957
30 in. x 20 in. (762 mm x 508 mm)
Purchased, 2012
Primary Collection
NPG 6951

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Sir Matthew Smith (1879-1959), Painter. Artist of 4 portraits, Sitter in 6 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Smith was associated with the Bloomsbury group early in his career and Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell remained his close friends. He had known their daughter, Angelica Garnett, since childhood, and painted her a number of times.

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1957back to top

Current affairs

Harold Macmillan takes over as Conservative prime minister, manoeuvring Eden out of power after his poor handling of the Suez Crisis the previous year.
The Wolfenden Report recommends that homosexuality should no longer be a criminal offence. It still took ten years, however, before any changes were made to the law on homosexuality with the Sexual Offences Act in 1967.

Art and science

The Today Programme is first broadcast on Radio 4. This early morning current affairs programme is known for breaking major stories early, and for its hard-hitting approach and touch interviewing style. Presenters have included: Robert Robinson, Brian Redhead, Libby Purves, Jenni Murray, Sue MacGregor, John Humphrys, Anna Ford and James Naughtie.

International

The Treaty of Rome leads to the formation of the European Economic Community. Officially beginning on 1st January 1958, the EEC established a European Common Market, where goods, services, labour and capital could move freely within the European member countries, and shared policies were agreed for labour, social welfare, agriculture, transport, and foreign trade. The EEC preceded the European Community, and the European Union.

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