Jane Price facts for kids

Jane Rebecca Price (born February 18, 1860 – died May 24, 1948) was an important Australian artist. She was a painter and helped start the Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors. Her artworks are displayed in major galleries like the National Gallery of Victoria and the Art Gallery of South Australia. Jane Price was also good friends with artists from the famous Heidelberg school.

Jane Price's Early Life and Training

Jane Price was born in Cheddar, Somerset, England, on February 18, 1860. Her father, William Thomas Price, was a clergyman, and her mother was Rebecca Jane Evans. Jane grew up with five brothers and sisters.

She studied art at the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London. Back then, it was known as the South Kensington Art School. This is where she learned many of her artistic skills.

Her Artistic Journey and Career

Children Playing in a Landscape, c. 1888, National Gallery of Victoria

When Jane was 20, she moved from England to Sydney, Australia. Two years later, she moved to Melbourne. She visited Sydney a few times later in her life, but she mostly lived in Melbourne's suburbs. She spent her last 13 years in St. Kilda, living with her friend Ina Gregory. Ina was also an artist connected to the Heidelberg school.

Jane Price painted throughout her life. However, she also worked as a governess to earn money and have a place to live. This job sometimes made it harder for her to paint as much as she wanted.

Her paintings were shown at the Victorian Artists Society from 1882 to 1906. Her work was also displayed at other places in Melbourne.

Friends in the Heidelberg School

Jane Price was lifelong friends with many artists from the Heidelberg school. This was a group of Australian painters known for their impressionist style. Some of her closest friends were Jane Sutherland, Clara Southern, Tom Roberts, and Frederick McCubbin.

These friendships were very important to her. For example, Frederick McCubbin once wrote a letter to Tom Roberts. In the letter, he mentioned that he was happy to see "Janey Price did very well" at an art exhibition. This show was held at McCubbin's house in 1906. Many of Jane's paintings were sold at that exhibition.

Later Life and Legacy

Jane Price passed away on May 24, 1948, when she was 88 years old. She was living with her friend and fellow artist, Ina Gregory, at the time.

To honor her, a street in the Canberra suburb of Conder is named Jane Price Crescent.

Since her death, Jane Price's art has been part of several exhibitions. These shows have helped more people discover her important contributions to Australian art. Some of these exhibitions include:

• 1988 The Australian Impressionists: Their Origins and Influences
• 1992 Completing the Picture: Women Artists of the Heidelberg Era
• 1993 A Century of Australian Women Artists 1840s -1940s

Her artworks are kept in major public collections. You can see her paintings at the National Gallery of Victoria and the Art Gallery of South Australia.

• The Patch, Kallista, 1941 (This painting has a note on the back saying it's a "view from Tom Robert’s Studio"). You can see it online: The Patch, Kallista by JR Price
• Sydney Harbour by Night, c. 1910. This painting is also online: Sydney Harbour by Night by JR Price
• A little 'un, early 1890s and Spring clouds c. 1905. These are available online: A little 'un and Spring clouds

Some of her works are also in private collections, like:

• Heidelberg, n.d. You can view this pastel artwork online: Heidelberg, pastel