Richard Godfrey Rivers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Godfrey Rivers
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| Born | 28 November 1858 |
| Died | 4 February 1925 (aged 66) England
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| Resting place | Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane |
| Other names | R. Godfrey Rivers |
| Education | Slade School of Fine Art, University College London |
| Known for | Painter, art gallery curator, art teacher |
Richard Godfrey Rivers (1858 – 1925) was an English artist. He was also known as R. Godfrey Rivers. He spent much of his life working in Australia. Rivers was the president of the Queensland Art Society for many years.
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Early Life of Richard Godfrey Rivers
Richard Godfrey Rivers was born in 1858 in Plymouth, England. His parents were Richard Rivers and Bertha Harris. His older brother, Arthur Richard Rivers, became a priest in Australia.
Rivers studied art at the Slade School of Art in London. He was there from 1877 to 1883. He learned from Professor Alphonse Legros. In 1883, he won a prize for his landscape painting. He also showed his art at the Royal Academy in 1884.
Artistic Career in Australia
Rivers moved to Australia in 1889. He taught at Katoomba College for a time. From 1890 to 1915, he was an art teacher at Brisbane Central Technical College.
He was also very involved with the Queensland Art Society. He served as its president from 1892 to 1901 and again from 1904 to 1908. From 1895 to 1914, he was the honorary curator of the Queensland National Art Gallery. This meant he helped look after the art collection.
In 1901, Richard Godfrey Rivers married Selina Jane Bell. The wedding took place at St John's Cathedral, Brisbane. His brother Arthur performed the ceremony. They had a son, also named Richard Godfrey, in 1907. Sadly, their son died in 1912. He was buried in Toowong Cemetery.
Famous Painting: Under the Jacaranda
In 1903, Rivers painted a famous picture called Under the Jacaranda. This painting is very well-known in Brisbane. It shows Rivers and his wife Selina having tea. They are sitting under a Jacaranda tree. This tree was one of the first jacaranda trees planted in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. The garden's first curator, Walter Hill, planted it. The painting is now part of the collection at the Queensland Art Gallery.
Rivers became known for his portrait paintings. Some of his portraits, like the one of Sir Samuel Griffith, are displayed in the supreme court in Brisbane. He also taught art at the Brisbane High School for Girls and Brisbane Girls Grammar School.
In 1915, he moved to Hobart, Tasmania. He tried to help grow interest in the art gallery there.
Later Life and Legacy
Rivers died in London, England, on February 4, 1925. He passed away from typhoid fever. His body was cremated in London. His ashes were then buried in his son's grave at Toowong Cemetery in Brisbane. A special service was held for him at St John's Cathedral.
His wife, Selina, died in 1948 in Hobart, Tasmania. Her ashes were also buried in their son's grave in Toowong Cemetery.
Rivers' Art and Trust
You can find examples of Rivers' outdoor paintings in art galleries. These include the state galleries in Sydney and Brisbane.
His wife, Selina, created something special called the Godfrey Rivers Trust. This trust helps art in two ways. Every other year, it buys an artwork from overseas. In other years, it gives a prize to local artists.
