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An image of The sisters by Hugh Ramsay

Hugh Ramsay

(Australia 25 May 1877–05 Mar 1906)

Title
The sisters
Other titles:
Two girls in white
Year
1904
Media category
Painting
Materials used
oil on canvas on hardboard
Dimensions

125.7 x 144.8cm board; 156.0 x 176.5 x 10.5cm frame

Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
Credit
Purchased 1921
Accession number
849
Location
19th c Australian art
Further information

Hugh Ramsay’s keen insight into character and poetic sensitivity to colour and scale, coupled with his remarkable technical virtuosity, made him one of Australia’s most important portraitists. From an early age his precocious talent held the promise of a fine career, but Ramsay had a tragically short life. He contracted tuberculosis in 1902 and died at the age of 29.

'The sisters' was painted after a two-year sojourn in England and France, with the influence of Velásquez and John Singer Sargent evident in Ramsay’s vivacious paint handling and the shimmering fabric of the dresses, which he has captured to great effect. It is also an interesting autobiographical painting, a composite portrait of his three sisters, Madge, Nell and Jessie.

Bibliography (59)

Barbara Weinberg (United States of America) (Author), Lynne Seear (Australia) (Author), American Impressionism & Realism: A landmark exhibition from The Met, Sydney, 2009, 56 (colour illus.), 59, 216 (colour illus., detail), 217, 222, 223 (colour illus.), 321, 330. cat.no. 19A; Exhibited in the 'Studios and Portraits Australia' section

'Portraits and pathos' by Lynne Seear, pg. 28-31., ARTlines [issue 2, June-August 2009] 2009, 2009, 28 (colour illus.), 31.

Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940) (Author), I blame Duchamp: my life's adventures in art, Surry Hills, 2009, 328.

Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940) (Author), Art Gallery of New South Wales: highlights from the collection, Sydney, 2008, 62-63 (colour illus.).

'The brain and portraiture: What we see and how we see it' by Bernard Rigby, pg. 13., Look Feb 2005, Feb 2005, 13 (colour illus.).

'Olley, Smart and a few of their favourite things' by Anne Loxley, pg. 34., The Sydney Morning Herald 16 Jan 2002, 16 Jan 2002, 34.

'In focus - Hugh Ramsay', pg. 76-77., In our own image: the story of Australian art 2002, 2002, 76 (colour illus.), 77.

Margaret Olley (Australia, b.1923, d.2011) (Author), Jeffrey Smart (Italy; Australia, b.1921) (Author), Deborah Hart (South Africa; United Kingdom; Australia, b.1959) (Director), Christine France (Australia) (Co-ordinator), Favourites: Margaret Olley and Jeffrey Smart selections, Sydney, 2002. No catalogue numbers; Margaret Olley selection.

Look Oct 2001, Oct 2001, 35 (illus.).

Andrew Sayers (Australia, b.1957) (Author), Australian art, Oxford, 2001, 116, 117 (illus.). plate no. 65

Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Australian art: in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Domain, 2000, 74, 93 (colour illus.), 302.

'Linda Sproul, Tom Roberts and the White Woman Project' by Leigh Astbury, pg. 232-235., Art and Australia (Vol. 37, No. 2) Dec 1999-Feb 2000, Dec 1999-Feb 2000, 234.

Bruce James (Australia) (Author), Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940) (Director), Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook, Domain, 1999, 128 (colour illus.).

Drusilla Modjeska (Author), Stravinsky's lunch, Sydney, 1999, 3 (illus.).

Lynne Seear (Australia) (Editor), Julie Ewington (Australia) (Editor), Brought to light: Australian Art 1850-1965, South Brisbane, 1998, 106.

Look Apr 1997, Apr 1997, 3 (colour illus.), 6.

'Close-Ups of the Collection', pg. 36., The Art Gallery of New South Wales Bulletin Feb 1997-Apr 1997, Feb 1997-Apr 1997, 36 (colour illus.).

'Hugh Ramsay: A young master', pg. 23-28., Australia's best painters: Tom Roberts, Hugh Ramsay and Thea Proctor 1997, 1997, 27, 28 (colour illus.).

In our own image: the story of Australian art 1995, 1995, 86 (colour illus.), 87.

'The sibling factor' by Laura M. Markowitz, pg. 72-73., The Independent Monthly Jul 1994, Jul 1994, 72, 73 (colour illus.).

Ewen McDonald (Australia) (Editor), The Art Gallery of New South Wales collections, Sydney, 1994, 25 (colour illus.).

'Patricia and the portraits of an artist who died a young man: The rescue of Ramsay' by Elizabeth Fortescue, pg. 92-93., Daily telegraph mirror 08 May 1993, 08 May 1993, 93 (illus.). NOTE: Patricia Fullerton is positioned infront of painting.

'Our forgotten Keats' by Robert Rooney, pg. 8, The Australian 02 Jan 1993-03 Jan 1993, 02 Jan 1993-03 Jan 1993, 8.

'Hugh Ramsay: Some women in his life' by Garry Darby, pg. 5-7 and 30., Women's view (vol. 8, no. 8) Winter 1993, Winter 1993, cover (colour illus., detail), 5, 6, 7 (colour illus.).

'Hugh Ramsay: Tragic hero of Australian Art' by Patricia Fullerton, pg. 10-12., Antiques & art in Victoria Nov 1992-Mar 1993, Nov 1992-Mar 1993, 12.

Patricia Fullerton (Australia, b.1945) (Author), Hugh Ramsay 1877-1906, Melbourne, 1992, 13, 74 (colour illus., detail), 75 (colour illus.). cat.no. 49

Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Patricia McDonald (Editor), Haruo Arikawa (Japan) (Author), Chikashi Kitazaki (Japan) (Editor), Two hundred years of Australian painting: nature, people and art in the southern continent, Tokyo, 1992, 111 (colour illus.). cat.no. 60

'Book Reviews' by Ruth Zubans, pg. 404., Art and Australia (Vol. 26, No. 3) Autumn 1989, Autumn 1989, 404. Book review of Patricia Fullerton's 'Hugh Ramsay: his life and work'.

Daniel Thomas (Editor), Ron Radford (Australia, b.1949) (Assistant Co-ordinator), Creating Australia: 200 years of art 1788-1988, Melbourne, 1988, 188, 189 (colour illus.).

Annabel Davie (Editor), Art Gallery of New South Wales Handbook, Domain, 1988, 20 (illus.).

Patricia Fullerton (Australia, b.1945) (Author), Hugh Ramsay: his life and work, Hawthorn East, 1988, 120, 121 (colour illus.), 124-125, 134, 136, 137, 151, 152, 209. cat.no. 173; plate no 43; Appendix Two - Catalogue: paintings

Geoffrey Serle (Australia, b.1922) (Editor), Australian Dictionary of Biography (Vol 11), Melbourne, 1988, 326-327.

Deborah Edwards (Australia) (Author), Two centuries of Australian painting: a selection from the Art Gallery of New South Wales, New South Wales, 1986, 11, 23 (illus.), 24. cat.no. 15

'The greatest Australian paintings' by Edmund Capon, Terry Ingram, Patrick McCaughey, Terence Maloon and Barry Pearce, pg. 46-49., The Sydney Morning Herald 07 Sep 1985-08 Sep 1985, 07 Sep 1985-08 Sep 1985, 46 (illus.), 48. Good Weekend Magazine supplement

Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940) (Editor), Jan Meek (Australia) (Editor), Portrait of a Gallery, Sydney, 1984, 30, 31 (colour illus.).

Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Fifteen decades of Australian paintings, Sydney, 1981, (colour illus.). cat.no. 8

William Splatt (Author), Barbara Burton (Author), 100 masterpieces of Australian painting, Adelaide, 1973, 102, 103 (colour illus.). plate no. 48

Editor Unknown (Editor), Art Gallery of New South Wales picturebook, Domain, 1972, 90 (colour illus.).

Author Unknown (Author), The Adelaide Festival of Arts 1962: Special exhibitions at the National Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, 1962. not paginated, cat.no. 80

Brian Finemore (Australia, b.1925, d.1975) (Author), Painting, London, 1961, 16 (illus.).

Olympic Civic Committee of Melbourne City Council (Australia, active 1956), The arts festival of the Olympic Games, Melbourne: a guide to the exhibitions with introductory commentaries on the arts in Australia, Melbourne, 1956, 103 (illus.), 144. cat.no. 108; Collection of National Art Gallery of New South Wales

Herbert Badham (Australia, b.1899, d.1961) (Author), A gallery of Australian art, Sydney, 1954, (illus.). plate no. 17

Hal Missingham (Australia, b.1906, d.1994) (Author), A retrospective exhibition of Australian painting, Domain, 1953. cat.no. 93

Laurie Thomas (Australia, b.1915, d.1974) (Editor), Jubilee exhibition of Australian art, Sydney, 1951, 40, 55 (colour illus.). not paginated; cat.no. 110

Lionel Lindsay (Australia, b.1874, d.1961) (Author), 150 years of Australian art, Sydney, 1938. cat.no. 810

William Moore (Australia, b.1868, d.1937) (Author), The story of Australian art from the earliest known art of the continent to the art of today (Vol. 1), Sydney, 1934, between 186–187 (illus.), 192.

'Australian artists of the past: Hugh Ramsay' by A. C., Age 10 Sep 1932, 10 Sep 1932.

'The National Gallery: work of the students' by Arthur Streeton., Age 24 Dec 1929, 24 Dec 1929.

'The Australian exhibition in London' by P.G. Konody, pg. 924-928.; 'Australian art and English critics', pg. 929-931., Art in Australia [series 3, no. 7] Mar 1924, Mar 1924, 927, 931.

Australian Exhibition Commission (Australia) (Author), Catalogue: British Empire Exhibition (Wembley) 1924, 1924, 93. no catalogue numbers

Elioth Gruner (New Zealand; Australia, b.1882, d.1939) (Organiser), Catalogue of an exhibition of the works of Australian artists, Sydney, 1923. not paginated, cat.no. 47, Room X

Elioth Gruner (New Zealand; Australia, b.1882, d.1939) (Organiser), The exhibition of Australian art to be held at the galleries of the Royal Academy London, 1923, Sydney, 1923. cat.no. 47; not paginated

'The Ramsay Touch' by Edward A. Vidler, pg. 30-31., The Triad: a journal devoted to literacy, pictorial, musical and dramatic art 10 Dec 1918, 10 Dec 1918, 31. cat.no. 1; titled 'The Sisters'

'Paintings of Hugh Ramsay. Australian's notable work'., Argus 01 Oct 1918, 01 Oct 1918. Review of Hugh Ramsay's 1918 Memorial Exhibition, held at the Fine Art Society, Melbourne.

'Hugh Ramsay: an Australian artist' by Sir Baldwin Spencer, pg. 5., Argus 28 Sep 1918, 28 Sep 1918, 5. Opening speech by Sir Baldwin Spencer of the Hugh Ramsay memorial exhibition, held in October 1918 at the Fine Art Society, Melbourne.

Edward A. Vidler (Australia, b.1863, d.1942) (Author), The art of Hugh Ramsay, Melbourne, 1918, 8, 17 (illus.), 26.

Author Unknown, Victorian Artists' Society Winter Exhibition Catalogue 1904, Melbourne, 1904, (illus.). cat.no. 27; titled 'Two girls in white'

The Seventh Federal Exhibition (1904), South Australia, 1904, 12. cat.no. 77; titled 'Two girls in white'

Sarah Engledow (Australia) (Author), Impressions: painting light & life, Canberra, 2011, 15, 146 (caption), 147 (colour illus.). cat.no. 65

Exhibition history (30)

Victorian Artists Society Winter Exhibition (1904), 09 Jul 1904–Jul 1904.

The Seventh Federal Exhibition (1904), Institute Building, North Terrace, 12 Nov 1904–03 Dec 1904.

Hugh Ramsay memorial exhibition, Fine Arts Society Gallery, 01 Oct 1918–12 Oct 1918.

Exhibition of Australian art (1923), Education Department Gallery [Loftus Street], Jun 1923 -.

Exhibition of Australian Art (1923), Burlington House, 06 Oct 1923–03 Nov 1923.

British Empire Exhibition (1924), Empire Stadium, 23 Apr 1924–Oct 1925.

150 years of Australian art (1938), National Art Gallery of New South Wales, 27 Jan 1938–25 Apr 1938.

Jubilee exhibition of Australian art, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, 12 Mar 1951–31 Mar 1951.

Jubilee exhibition of Australian art, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston, 09 Apr 1951–28 Apr 1951.

Jubilee exhibition of Australian art, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 25 Jun 1951–21 Jul 1951.

Jubilee exhibition of Australian art, Queensland Art Gallery, 06 Aug 1951–01 Sep 1951.

Jubilee exhibition of Australian art, Art Gallery of South Australia, 24 Sep 1951–20 Oct 1951.

Jubilee exhibition of Australian art, Art Gallery of Western Australia, 12 Nov 1951–10 Dec 1951.

A retrospective exhibition of Australian painting, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 25 Sep 1953–25 Oct 1953.

The Arts Festival of the Olympic Games (1956), National Gallery of Victoria [Swanston Street], 18 Nov 1956–15 Dec 1956.

Australian Painting: Colonial, Impressionist, Contemporary (1962-63), National Gallery of South Australia, 17 Mar 1962–31 Mar 1962.

Fifteen decades of Australian painting, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 10 Apr 1981–24 May 1981.

Two centuries of Australian painting, a selection from the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Orange Regional Gallery, 19 Apr 1986–15 Jun 1986.

The great Australian art exhibition, Queensland Art Gallery, 17 May 1988–17 Jul 1988.

The great Australian art exhibition, Art Gallery of Western Australia, 13 Aug 1988–25 Sep 1988.

The great Australian art exhibition, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 21 Oct 1988–27 Nov 1988.

The great Australian art exhibition, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, 21 Dec 1988–05 Feb 1989.

The great Australian art exhibition, National Gallery of Victoria [St Kilda Road], 01 Mar 1989–30 Apr 1989.

The great Australian art exhibition, Art Gallery of South Australia, 23 May 1989–16 Jul 1989.

Two hundred years of Australian painting : Nature, people and art in the southern continent, National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo, 28 Apr 1992–28 Jun 1992.

Two hundred years of Australian painting : Nature, people and art in the southern continent, The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, 14 Jul 1992–06 Sep 1992.

Hugh Ramsay 1877-1906, National Gallery of Victoria [St Kilda Road], 15 Dec 1992–08 Feb 1993.

Favourites: Margaret Olley and Jeffrey Smart (2002), S.H. Ervin Gallery, 12 Jan 2002–24 Feb 2002.

American Impressionism and Realism: a landmark exhibition from the Met, Queensland Art Gallery, 30 May 2009–20 Sep 2009.

Impressions: painting light and life, National Portrait Gallery [Parliamentary Zone], 25 Nov 2011–04 Mar 2012.