Gladys Reynell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gladys Reynell
|
|
|---|---|
Gladys Reynell in a rowboat, n.d.
|
|
| Born | 4 September 1881 Glenelg, South Australia
|
| Died | 16 November 1956 (aged 75) Melbourne, Australia
|
| Nationality | Australian |
| Education | Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts, London |
| Style | Modernism; Arts and Crafts influence |
| Spouse(s) | George Samuel Osborne |
Gladys Reynell (born 1881, died 1956) was a very important artist in South Australia. She was one of the first potters there. She was famous for her strong, modern style and for using local Australian clays in her work.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Gladys Reynell was born on 4 September 1881. Her hometown was Glenelg, near Adelaide, Australia. She was one of five children in a wealthy family. Her father, Walter Reynell, grew grapes for wine. Her grandfather, John Reynell, started one of the first wineries in South Australia. Gladys was also a cousin of Elizabeth Webb Nicholls, a famous woman who fought for women's rights.
Gladys grew up on her family's large estate. She was taught at home for a while. Later, she went to Tormore House School in North Adelaide.
Studying Art
Gladys first studied medicine at the University of Adelaide. But she soon decided to study art instead. By 1903, she joined the School of Design's Art Club in Adelaide. She showed her art in a big show that same year.
In 1907, two painters, Margaret Preston and Bessie Davidson, opened their own art studio. Gladys started learning painting there with Margaret Preston. Margaret became a very close friend to Gladys.
Travel and Pottery Training
In 1912, Gladys and Margaret traveled to Paris, France. They stayed there for a year. Then they moved to London and Ireland. Their plans changed when World War I started. In 1915, Gladys's younger brother, Carew, died in the war at Gallipoli.
The next year, Gladys's other brother, Rupert, suggested something new. He told Gladys and Margaret to learn pottery at the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts in London. The idea was to teach pottery to soldiers who were hurt in the war.
Gladys's oldest pottery pieces are from this time. She was already interested in using clay from Australia. She even had some clay from Kangaroo Island sent to her in London.
In 1918, near the end of the war, Gladys and Margaret taught pottery to soldiers. They worked at a hospital in Devon, England. Rupert, Gladys's brother, was a surgeon there. The next year, Gladys went back home because her father was sick. He passed away in 1919 in Reynella. This town was named after her grandfather.
Pottery Career and Life
In September 1919, Gladys and Margaret had an art show together. They showed paintings and pottery at Preece’s Gallery in Adelaide. This gallery was becoming a popular place for art in the city. The governor of South Australia spoke at the opening. He said he didn't quite understand modern art. But he agreed that the art shown was "certainly the work of great artists."
Starting Her Own Pottery
After this show, Gladys opened her own pottery studio at Reynella. This made her one of Australia's first studio potters. She was also the first person in South Australia to do every step of making pottery herself. This included finding clay, building her own kiln, and then shaping, glazing, and firing the pieces.
It is important to know that Aboriginal artists in Australia did not have their own pottery tradition. So, European settlers like Gladys brought the art of pottery to Australia. Gladys was very excited to use Australian clays. She said they had "never before known potter's hands."
Unique Designs
Gladys mostly made earthenware bowls, cups, and kitchen items. She decorated them with Australian animals and flowers. Her pottery shapes were based on old European folk art. She used special techniques like slipware and sgraffito for the decorations.
Many of her early works used clay from McLaren Vale. This clay made a reddish-brown color. Later, she became known for a deep blue color on her pottery. Her bold, straight-line decorations were her special style. They were inspired by the Arts and Crafts style, Aboriginal art, and modern art. Every piece she made was unique. She never wanted to make pottery for mass production.
Osrey Pottery
Running Reynella Pottery by herself was hard. So, after 1920, Gladys hired George Samuel Osborne as her helper. He was a former soldier and gardener. They became very close and decided to get married. Gladys's family was not happy about this marriage. This was partly because George's family had worked for the Reynells. Also, George was ten years younger than Gladys.
But Gladys and George got married in 1922. They moved to Ballarat in Victoria state. There, they started a new pottery business called Osrey Pottery. The name "Osrey" was a mix of their last names. Their pottery was very popular. They sold it in Melbourne and at street fairs. Sometimes, Gladys would even make pottery right there at the fairs to attract people.
Sadly, they had to close the pottery business in 1926. George became sick from lead in the glazes. This made them very poor.
Later Years
In the 1930s, Gladys started painting and making prints again for a short time. She sometimes used her married name, Gladys Osborne, for her art. George got better and joined the army during World War II. The couple moved to Melbourne. Gladys helped with the war effort by working for the army and as a French translator.
Gladys Reynell passed away from cancer on 16 November 1956. Her husband scattered her ashes at Reynella.
Her Legacy
Gladys Reynell's art was not well-known at first. This was partly because she worked alone for much of her career. She was also a pioneer in Australian ceramics. This meant there weren't many other potters or people who understood her art.
Her work only started to be collected by museums in the late 1960s. Now, her pottery, paintings, and sketchbooks are in major Australian collections. These include the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The South Australian Art Gallery has a painting of Gladys when she was in her mid-twenties. It was painted by her friend Bessie Davidson.
