Portia Geach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Portia Geach
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| Born |
Portia Stranston Geach
24 December 1873 |
| Died | 5 October 1959 (aged 85) Sydney, Australia
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| Occupation | Artist, feminist, housewives' advocate |
| Years active | 1901–1957 |
| Known for | Portia Geach Memorial Award, Founder and President, New South Wales Housewives’ Association |
Portia Stranston Geach (born December 24, 1873, in Melbourne; died October 5, 1959, in Sydney) was an important Australian artist. She was also a feminist, meaning she believed in equal rights for women. Portia helped start and lead the New South Wales Housewives' Association. She also led the Federal Association of Australian Housewives. After her death, a special art prize was created in her honor. This prize, called the Portia Geach Memorial Award, is a big award for Australian women who paint portraits.
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Early Life and Art School
Portia Geach was born on December 24, 1873. She was the fifth child of Edwin and Catherine Geach. Her parents were from Cornwall in England.
Portia loved art from a young age. She studied design from 1890 to 1892. Then, she studied painting from 1892 to 1896. She went to the National Gallery School in Melbourne.
Studying Art in Europe
In 1896, Portia traveled to London, England. She was the first Australian to win a special scholarship to study at the Royal Academy School. She studied there for four years until 1900. She learned from famous artists like Lawrence Alma-Tadema and John Singer Sargent.
Portia also studied how to make stained glass at the London School of Arts and Crafts. She even went to the Académie Julian in Paris, France, to learn more about art.
Returning to Australia
Portia came back to Melbourne in 1901. She showed her artwork in her own studio on Collins Street. She also joined the Victorian Artists’ Society and showed her art with them often.
In 1904, Portia's family moved to Sydney. She then spent time living and working in both Melbourne and Sydney. From 1906, she also showed her art with the Royal Art Society of New South Wales. In 1907, she won two second-place prizes at an exhibition in Melbourne. One was for a watercolor painting, and the other was for an etching.
Later, Portia lived in the family home at Cremorne Point in Sydney. She then moved to an apartment in The Astor on Macquarie Street with her sister, Florence. In 1926, she even showed her art in Paris with the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. Portia Geach passed away on October 5, 1959, in Sydney.
Fighting for Women's Rights
Portia Geach was a strong supporter of women's rights. She believed women should have equal opportunities and a fair deal in daily life.
Starting the Housewives' Association
In 1917, Portia went to a meeting of the Housewives Association in New York City. She thought Australia needed a similar group. When she returned to Sydney, she started the New South Wales Housewives’ Association. She became its first president.
The group wanted to teach women about good nutrition. They also aimed to help families fight against unfair prices and rising costs for food. In 1928, Portia changed the group's name to the Housewives’ Progressive Association. For many years, she also led the Federal Association of Australian Housewives.
Speaking Out for Change
In 1925, Portia became a delegate for the National Council of Women of New South Wales. This meant she represented them at a big meeting in Washington, D.C. She spoke up for women's rights, like equal pay for equal work. She also fought for women to be able to hold public office.
Portia often shared her ideas about everyday household issues. She talked about buying Australian-made goods and how food was preserved. She also spoke about things like egg dates and the high prices of bread and milk. She shared her views in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper and on the radio. To spread her message, she started The Housewives Magazine in 1933 and The Progressive Journal in 1935.
Portia Geach's Art
Portia Geach was especially good at painting portraits. She painted many important people. These included journalist Donald Alaster Macdonald and politician Edith Cowan. She also painted Sir John Quick. In 1893, she painted a portrait of her father, Edwin Geach. This painting is now in The Tweed River Art Gallery. Portia also painted large wall murals, including some in New York around 1917.
One of her notable works was Tales from Tennyson: ‘Queen Guinevere’. This painting brought to life a poem by Tennyson. It showed how art and poetry can connect.
Other works by Portia include A Procession of the Horses, Queen Rose in her Rosebud Garden of Girls, and Homeward. Her art has been shown in several galleries and museums. These include the S. H. Ervin Gallery. Her paintings have also been sold at auctions.
A place in Canberra, Australia, called Geach Place, is named after her.
The Portia Geach Memorial Award
After Portia Geach passed away, her sister Florence Kate inherited her estate. Florence died in 1962. In her will, Florence set up a special prize. This prize, worth £1000, would be given each year for a portrait painted by a woman artist.
This award is now known as the Portia Geach Memorial Award. It is considered the most important prize in Australia for celebrating the talent of female portrait artists.
Exhibitions of Her Work
Portia Geach's art has been shown in many exhibitions over the years:
- 1901 – Victorian Artists’ Society, Melbourne, Vic.
- 1906 – Royal Art Society of NSW, Sydney, NSW.
- 1907 – Women's Work Exhibition, Melbourne, Vic.
- 1926 – Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts Salon, Paris, France.
- 1995 – Women Hold Up Half The Sky, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT.
- 1995 – Colonial Pastime to Contemporary Profession, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart, Tas.
- 1995 – A l'ombre des jeunes filles et des fleurs, Benalla Art Gallery, Benalla, Vic.
- 1995–1996 – The Work of Art, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW.
- 2011–2012 – Look, Look Again, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA.
Where Her Art Is Kept
Portia Geach's artworks are held in several important collections:
- Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart, TAS
- Benalla Art Gallery, Benalla, VIC
- Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT
- National Library of Australia, Canberra, ACT
- National Trust S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
- Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
- WA State Parliament House Art Collection, Perth, WA
- National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT
- Cruthers Collection of Women's Art at the University of Western Australia
- Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, VIC
