Ernest William Christmas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ernest William Christmas
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| Born |
Ernest William Christmas
28 January 1863 |
| Died | 29 July 1918 (aged 55) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Known for | Painter |
Ernest William Christmas (born January 28, 1863 – died July 29, 1918) was an Australian artist. He was famous for painting beautiful landscapes. Many of his best-known paintings were created outside Australia. He traveled and painted in Europe, South America, and Hawaii.
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About Ernest William Christmas
Ernest William Christmas was born in 1863. His birthplace was near Adelaide, South Australia. His parents had moved there from England. His father, John, worked many jobs. He even became the mayor of Kadina.
Early Art Lessons
Ernest started learning art in Adelaide and Sydney. We don't know all the details of his training. However, he was very inspired by the realistic paintings of Henry James Johnstone. Realistic art tries to show things exactly as they look in real life.
Life in Australia and New Zealand
From 1894 to 1900, Ernest lived in Kalgoorlie. During this time, he also visited New Zealand for a long trip. Later, from 1905 to 1907, he lived in New Zealand again. He worked for the Tourist Department, painting scenes from different places. He also showed his art at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts.
Travels to Europe and Exhibitions
Between 1900 and 1902, Ernest traveled to Europe. He was chosen by the Australian government to pick artworks. These artworks were for a big exhibition in Australia. He sent about 270 paintings back home. When he returned, people said his own paintings had "greatly improved."
In 1909 and 1910, he became a member of the Royal Society. He showed his art with them. He also exhibited his paintings at other famous places. These included the Royal Academy and the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts.
Later Travels and Final Years
As he got older, Ernest loved to travel even more. From 1911 to 1913, he explored Argentina and Chile. He painted many scenes from the Andes mountains. Some of these paintings were even put into a book called Argentina Past and Present.
In 1915, he crossed North America to San Francisco. He showed his art with the Society of Californian Artists. In 1916, he was on his way back to Australia. He stopped in Hawaii and decided to stay there. Ernest was already not feeling well when he arrived. He passed away in Hawaii two years later, in 1918, from heart failure.
Selected Paintings
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On the Murray River
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The Sundowner
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A Peasant's Hut in the Cordillera
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Kilauea Caldera
