Frances Dolina Ellis facts for kids

Frances Dolina Ellis (born 1900, died 1971) was a talented artist, printmaker, and teacher. She lived, worked, and showed her art in both Australia and New Zealand. Frances was well-known in New Zealand's art world. In Australia, she worked closely with a famous artist and teacher named Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo.

Early Life and Art Training

Frances Ellis was born in Taihape, New Zealand. Her parents were William Agate Ellis and Mary Fraser McDonald. From a young age, Frances showed a lot of artistic talent. She studied art at the Diocesan School in Marton and the Wanganui Art and Technical School.

In the mid-1920s, she traveled to London, England. There, she trained at the Central School of Arts and Craft. During her time in London, she was greatly influenced by the artist Bernard Meninsky.

Moving to Australia and Studying with Dattilo-Rubbo

In 1934, Frances moved to Sydney, Australia. She went there to study with Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo. He was a well-known art teacher who focused on a style called French post-impressionism. This included the cubist work of artists like Cezanne.

By 1936, Frances was already showing her art with the Australian Art Society in Sydney. People praised her "very pleasant watercolour Flowers and Fruit." In 1938, she exhibited her work at the new Castlereagh Fine Art Gallery. She showed two watercolors, Evening at Narrabeen and The Boat Builder. These paintings focused on Sydney's coast and rivers.

Leading the Dattilo-Rubbo School

Frances Ellis took over running the Dattilo-Rubbo School from 1941 to 1949. At that time, many people thought this school was as good as the main art school in Sydney, the Julian Ashton Art School.

Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo had moved to Australia from Italy in 1897. Soon after, he started his art school. He taught his students the skills used by famous artists like Cezanne, Gauguin, and Vincent van Gogh. Some of his best-known students were Roland Wakelin, Grace Cossington Smith, and Roy De Maistre. Frances Ellis herself was very influenced by cubism. However, she chose subjects from her local area. This made her known as a "regionalist painter."

After Dattilo-Rubbo's wife passed away, Frances, who had been his student, teacher, and friend, took charge of his school. Later, she also looked after his house.

Portraits and Recognition

In 1942, Frances Ellis painted an oil portrait of Dattilo-Rubbo. He was very fond of Frances and painted her portrait in 1947. Both paintings show the artists at work. Dattilo-Rubbo gave his painting to Frances. Later, Frances's niece, Yolanda Hutton, gave it to the Sarjeant Gallery in 1977 after Frances passed away.

Frances Ellis's portrait of Dattilo-Rubbo is one of her most famous works. It was even a finalist in the 1942 Archibald Prize. This is a very important art competition held by the Art Gallery of NSW. Dattilo-Rubbo said her painting showed "strong drawing, virile colour and excellent touch." He specifically asked for the painting to be given to the Sarjeant Gallery. Today, both portraits hang side by side there.

Exhibitions and Later Years

Frances Ellis lived in Sydney but often traveled to Europe and New Zealand. She frequently showed her art in Hamilton, New Zealand. She was also a close friend of Ida Carey and other artists in the Waikato region.

In 1954, Frances exhibited her work with the Water Colour Institute. An art critic for Sydney Morning Herald noted that Frances and other artists in the exhibition had moved away from older, natural styles. Instead, they had "found Cezanne," meaning they were influenced by his modern approach.

Later that year, Frances's painting Clay Pit was chosen for the Mosman Art Prize. The Sydney Morning Herald critic described the art in that exhibition as "gay and adventurous." They also commented that Frances's painting showed "promise."

In 1987, Frances Ellis's work was "rediscovered" in New Zealand. The Waikato Museum held a special exhibition of her art.

Today, Frances Ellis's art can be found in important collections in New Zealand. These include the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and the Waikato Museum, which has many of her watercolors.