Bernard started his career working as a primary school teacher in the New South Wales. He then worked as an education officer at the "National Art Gallery of NSW." While serving for the Art Gallery of NSW, he won a scholarship to study at the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, University of London. He also earned a research scholarship from the "Australian National University" through which he completed his Ph.D.
Smith was the founding Professor of Contemporary Art and Director of the Power Institute of Fine Arts, University of Sydney and worked until his retirement in 1977. He was also the president of the Australian Academy of the Humanities and a professorial fellow in the department of Art History at the University of Melbourne.
Moving towards his personal life, Bernard Smith married twice. Firstly, he married Kate Challis in 1941. The couple were enjoying their marital relationship and living happily together but unfortunately, his first wife, Kate Challis died in 1989. Later, Smith tied the knot with Margaret Forster in 1995 and remain together until Bernard's death.
Art historian Bernard Smith earns the good sum of money in his career. Being art historian and art critic, he earned wide recognition and wealth. He was also a lecturer and senior lecturer and taught in several prestigious institutions through which he obtains a decent amount of money. His current net worth is around $10 million.
Bernard Smith had contributed his life to art and history and was undoubtedly Australia's greatest art historian. At the age of 94, Bernard Smith died in Melbourne on 2nd September 2011.
