Bessie Gibson facts for kids

Elizabeth Dickson Gibson (born in 1868, died in 1961) was an Australian artist who became well-known for her paintings. She spent many years living and working in Paris, France, where she developed her artistic skills.

Early Life and Art Training

Elizabeth Dickson Gibson was born on May 16, 1868, in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. Her father, James Gibson, was a bank manager, and her mother was Anne Bush Blair.

Later, her family moved to Manley near Brisbane after her father retired. Elizabeth became very interested in art. She studied art at the Brisbane Technical College from 1899 to 1905. Her teacher was a famous local artist named Godfrey Rivers.

Elizabeth dreamed of studying art in Europe. Her family helped her pay for a three-year trip to Paris, France, which was a major art center at the time. She left Australia in September 1905. By May 1906, she had settled in Montparnasse, a famous artistic area in Paris. She lived there for many years, until 1939.

Her Art Career in Paris

In Paris, Elizabeth Gibson chose a different path from some of the more experimental artists of her time. She didn't join the avant-garde art movement, which was all about new and often shocking art styles. Instead, she preferred to work in a more traditional way.

She showed her art in important places like the Royal Academy and Salon exhibitions. These were well-respected art shows that followed classic art rules. This helped her gain recognition for her work.

Later Life and Legacy

When World War II started in 1939, Elizabeth Gibson left Paris and moved to England. During the war, she helped with the Red Cross, an organization that provides aid during emergencies. After the war ended, she returned to Paris.

In 1947, Elizabeth moved back to Australia. Even though her art was recognized in Europe, many people in Australia didn't know about her work. This might have been because she was a shy person and came from Queensland, which was not always seen as a major art hub at the time.

Today, Elizabeth Gibson's paintings are displayed in several important art galleries. You can find her work in State galleries and the National Gallery of Australia, as well as in private collections. She passed away in a nursing home in Brisbane on July 13, 1961.