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Margery Withers

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Margery Withers
Margery Withers, circa 1903, State Library Victoria
Born13 January 1890
England, United Kingdom
Died1966
Heidelberg, Victoria
EducationNational Gallery School
Known forPainting

Margery Pitt Withers (13 January 1890 – 1966) was an Australian artist.

Biography

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Born in England to Fanny Flinn and the Australian landscape artist Walter Withers, Margery was brought to Australia aged six months to live at the Charterisville estate in East Ivanhoe, Victoria.[1] Her father worked as an art master at various schools in Melbourne including the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Ruyton Girls' School, the Melbourne Grammar School and Emma Bartlett Cook's Private Girls' School.[1] Margery Withers studied art at the National Gallery School and the Working Men's College.[2] At the National Gallery School, Withers won nine prizes and was awarded a special prize of £50 by the National Gallery Trustees for her picture The Letter.[3]

Withers was engaged to fellow student, John (Jack) Martin Paterson, who dedicated a sketch of a kitten to her while a soldier during World War 1.[4] He was killed in action at Villers-Bretonneux in August 1918.[4] In 1927 Withers married Richard Matthew McCann, an artist and a founding member of Twenty Melbourne Painters.

Withers painted figures and landscapes in both oil and watercolours, and taught art at Swinburne College for several years, though as a married woman she was asked to resign in 1928 and reapply for a temporary position, without benefits.[5] Her work has been described as "finding charm in every shadow and light under her brush."[6]

She painted at Tawonga,[7] Diamond Creek, and Heidelberg,[8] and exhibited with the Victorian Artists Society[9] and the Twenty Melbourne Painters Society.[10] She also showed with artists such as Polly Hurry, Jo Sweatman, and A.M.E. Bale.[11]

Withers has works in the collections of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum, the University of Western Australia and the State Library Victoria. Her portrait of her husband Richard McCann was shortlisted for the Archibald Prize in 1939.[12]

Works

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Miss Margery Withers[13] The Herald, 1928
  • 1910, Early Eltham looking towards Montmorency][14]
  • ca. 1913–1922, Nude study of a young woman[15]
  • ca. 1913–1922, A Warrandyte Farm, near Frank Crozier's[16]
  • 1920, Kit Turner's Cottage, Eltham[17]
  • 1920, Souter's College, Eltham[18]
  • 1920, Studley Park[19]
  • ca. 1920–1940, Christ Church, South Yarra[20]
  • 1924, Bridge and piers[21]
  • 1932, Yarra floods and North Balwyn from Ivanhoe-Boulevard[22]
  • 1935, Portrait of unidentified young woman[23]
  • 1945, Orchard country, North Eltham[24]

Exhibitions

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  • Walter and Margery Withers, Collins House, 1915[25]
  • Catalogue of paintings by Margery Withers, 1922 [State Library Victoria]
    Walter and Margery Withers (watercolours), Athenaeum Hall, 1916[26]
  • Solo exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, 1919[27]
  • The Baldwin Spencer Collection of Australian Pictures and Works of Art, Fine Art Society's Galleries (Melbourne), 1919[28]
  • Twenty Melbourne Painters 3rd annual exhibition, Athenaeum Hall, 1921[29][30]
  • Group exhibition (Margery, Nancy & Meynell Withers), Athenaeum Hall, 1922[31]
  • Twenty Melbourne Painters, Athenaeum Hall, 1923[32]
  • Twenty Melbourne Painters, Athenaeum Hall, 1925[33]
  • Twenty Melbourne Painters 8th annual exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, 1926[34]
  • Twenty Melbourne Painters, Athenaeum Hall, 1927[35]
  • Twenty Melbourne Painters 10th annual exhibition, Athenaeum Hall, 1928[36]
  • Solo exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, 1929[37]
  • Twenty Melbourne Painters, Athenaeum Gallery, 1929[38]
  • Exhibition by Mr Ernest Buckmaster, Athenaeum Gallery, 1930[39]
  • Solo exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, 1932[40]
  • Warrandyte Art Exhibition, Penleigh Boyd Studio, 1932[41]
  • Rookwood Gallery opening, 1933[42]
  • Heidelberg and District Art Exhibition, Ivanhoe Hall, 1934[43]
  • Twenty Melbourne Painters 16th annual exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, 1934[44]
  • Twenty Melbourne Painters, Athenaeum Gallery, 1935[45]
  • Twenty Melbourne Painters 18th annual exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, 1936[46]
  • Heidelberg "Inspiration of Landscape Art" exhibition, Heidelberg Town Hall, 1937[47]
  • The Herald Exhibition of Outstanding Pictures of 1937, Athenaeum Gallery, 1938[48]
  • Twenty Melbourne Painters, Athenaeum Gallery, 1938[11]
  • Heidelberg 3rd art exhibition, Ivanhoe Town Hall, 1940[49]
  • Launceston Art Society (Twenty Melbourne Painters), Queen Victoria Museum, 1943[50]
  • Twenty Melbourne Painters 26th annual exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, 1944[51]
  • Twenty Melbourne Painters, Athenaeum Gallery, 1945[52]
  • Twenty Melbourne Painters, Athenaeum Gallery, 1947[53]
  • Twenty Melbourne Painters 30th annual exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, 1948[54][55]

Further reading

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Artist's Footsteps". www.artistsfootsteps.com. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Withers, Margery Pitt - Artists - Australian Art Auction Records". www.artrecord.com. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  3. ^ "ART EXHIBITION". Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918). 10 October 1916. p. 2. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Newly digitised works on paper". blogs.slv.vic.gov.au. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  5. ^ "WOMAN'S WORLD". Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954). 18 September 1928. p. 16. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  6. ^ "VICTORIAN ARTISTS' SOCIETY SPRING SHOW". Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939). 6 September 1917. p. 27. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  7. ^ "ART". Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946). 18 April 1931. p. 15. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  8. ^ "On Eltham's Art History – Essay by Jenni Mitchell". Petschel House. 30 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  9. ^ "ART EXHIBITIONS". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 14 June 1921. p. 9. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Photograph - Mary Owen, granddaughter of Walter Withers, unveiling the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990 - Victorian Collections". 136.154.202.135. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  11. ^ a b "VARIOUS ART". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 13 September 1938. p. 14. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Archibald Prize Archibald 1939 finalist: R McCann, Esq by Margery Withers". www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  13. ^ "WOMan's WORLD - HOME GARDENING Lecture on Vegetable Growing - the Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954) - 18 Sep 1928". Herald. 18 September 1928.
  14. ^ Early Eltham looking towards Montmorency / Margery Withers search.slv.vic.gov.au
  15. ^ Nude study of a young woman / Margery Withers search.slv.vic.gov.au
  16. ^ A Warrandyte farm - near Frank Crozier's / Margery Withers search.slv.vic.gov.au
  17. ^ Kit Turner's cottage, Eltham /Margery Withers search.slv.vic.gov.au
  18. ^ Souter's College, Eltham search.slv.vic.gov.au
  19. ^ Studley Park slv.vic.gov.au
  20. ^ Christ Church, South Yarra slv.vic.gov.au
  21. ^ Bridge and piers slv.vic.gov.au
  22. ^ Yarra floods and North Balwyn from Ivanhoe-Boulevard slv.vic.gov.au
  23. ^ Portrait of unidentified young woman slv.vic.gov.au
  24. ^ Orchard country, North Eltham slv.vic.gov.au
  25. ^ "EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 24 November 1915. p. 13. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  26. ^ "Walter & Margery Withers represented in exhibition". Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954). 29 November 1916. p. 6. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  27. ^ "Art notes". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 19 November 1919. p. 11. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  28. ^ The Baldwin Spencer Collection of Australian Pictures and Works of Art exhibition catalogue, 1919. Margery Withers: Art & Artist files, held in the National Gallery of Australia Research Library & Archive Collection.
  29. ^ Twenty Melbourne Painters 3rd annual exhibition catalogue, 1921. Margery Withers: Art & Artist files, held in the National Gallery of Australia Research Library & Archive Collection.
  30. ^ "THE STUDIO". Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946). 6 August 1921. p. 32. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  31. ^ "EXHIBITION OF PICTURES". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 29 November 1922. p. 22. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  32. ^ "THE STUDIO". Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946). 4 August 1923. p. 31. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  33. ^ "TWENTY PAINTERS' EXHIBITION". Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946). 19 September 1925. p. 63. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  34. ^ "ART NOTES". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 14 September 1926. p. 11. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  35. ^ "TWENTY MELBOURNE PAINTERS". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 6 September 1927. p. 13. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  36. ^ "THE TWENTY PAINTERS' EXHIBITION". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 18 September 1928. p. 7. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  37. ^ "Current Art Shows". Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939). 25 July 1929. p. 18. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  38. ^ "ART EXHIBITIONS". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 24 September 1929. p. 9. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  39. ^ "ART". Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946). 20 September 1930. p. 17. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  40. ^ "ART NOTES". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 26 July 1932. p. 9. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  41. ^ "THE WARRANDYTE ART EXHIBITION". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 17 December 1932. p. 21. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  42. ^ "A NEW ART GALLERY". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 26 September 1933. p. 14. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  43. ^ Heidelberg and District Art exhibition catalogue, 1934. Margery Withers: Art & Artist files, held in the National Gallery of Australia Research Library & Archive Collection.
  44. ^ "ART NOTES". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 18 September 1934. p. 7. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  45. ^ "ART EXHIBITIONS". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 3 September 1935. p. 9. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  46. ^ "Large Crowd at Private View". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 23 September 1936. p. 10. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  47. ^ "HEIDELBERG EXHIBITION". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 5 May 1937. p. 10. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  48. ^ The Herald Exhibition of Outstanding Pictures of 1937 exhibition catalogue, 1938. Margery Withers: Art & Artist files, held in the National Gallery of Australia Research Library & Archive Collection.
  49. ^ "HEIDELBERG ART EXHIBITION". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 5 October 1940. p. 23. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  50. ^ "Launceston Art Society Exhibition Opened". Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954). 2 April 1943. p. 4. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  51. ^ "FIVE NEW ART EXHIBITIONS OPEN TODAY 20 Melbourne Painters' Good Show". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 19 September 1944. p. 6. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  52. ^ "TWENTY MELBOURNE PAINTERS". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 11 September 1945. p. 12. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  53. ^ "ART EXHIBITIONS". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 16 September 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  54. ^ Twenty Melbourne Painters 30th annual exhibition catalogue, 1948. Margery Withers: Art & Artist files, held in the National Gallery of Australia Research Library & Archive Collection.
  55. ^ "20 Melbourne painters". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 21 September 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
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