Spencer Gore was probably the most original of the younger painters associated with the Camden Town Group. He was from an upper middle class background and was educated at Harrow. After leaving school, where he won prizes for his drawing skills, he trained at the Slade School of Art in London for three years. Whilst painting in France in 1904 he met Walter Sickert and went to Paris to see the Gaugin exhibition at the Salon d’Automne. At about this time he also got to know Lucien Pissarro from whom he gained an insight into the theories and techniques of Impressionism.
‘The Cricket Match’ was painted near Garth House, Hertingfordbury in Hertfordshire where Gore's mother had moved in 1904. Gore kept wicket for the Harrow second eleven, and was a great cricket enthusiast and played for the MCC on occasion. This is his only known picture of the game, painted with short strokes of colour showing that he had fully absorbed impressionist techniques.
Sport was very much in Gore's blood. His father Spencer William, in addition to being a distinguished cricketer, was the first Wimbledon tennis champion.
