Will Ashton
Encyclopedia
Sir John William "Will" Ashton OBE
, ROI
(20 September 18811 September 1963) was a British
-Australian artist and Director of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales
from 1937 to 1945.
, the son of James Ashton
, an artist. The Ashtons migrated to Adelaide, South Australia and was educated at Prince Alfred College
from 1889-1897. Upon graduating Ashton entered the life of an artist. In 1900 he left for England to work and spent several years from 1902-1903 at the Académie Julian
in Paris
.
Ashton had some of his works accepted by the Royal Academy of Arts, London
, and the Salon de la Société des Artistes Français
and returned to Adelaide in 1905. The sale of his work, "Boulevard Montparnasse, Paris", to the National Gallery of South Australia
enabled him to marry May Millman, on 31 January 1906 at Christ Church, North Adelaide
. After holding exhibitions in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide, in 1908 he won the Wynne Prize
for landscape.
In 1912-14 he painted in Britain, Europe and Egypt. He was back in Australia for a year, but returned to London with his family in 1915 to 1917. Others of his subsequent frequent overseas trips were in the company of Lionel Lindsay
or Charles Bryant
. The impressionist oil paintings he made on these trips always sold well on his return to Australia. He advised the National Gallery of South Australia
and private collectors, and supported his family by examining for the Royal Drawing Society
of which he was a member. He won the Godfrey Rivers Bequest
prize in 1933 and 1938. Ashton also won the Wynne Prize for a second and third time in 1930 and in 1939.
, and almost immediately had to organize the sesquicentennial exhibition of Australian art. During his tenure he improved the gallery lighting, but other plans were postponed because of World War II
. From 1944-1947 he was also Director of David Jones Art Gallery
. A member of the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board from 1918, Ashton was chairman in 1953-1962. He was a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
, a Vice-President of the Australian Painter-Etchers' Society, and a member of the Society of Artists
in Sydney, being awarded its medal in 1944.
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1941 and was made a Knight Bachelor
on 11 June 1960 for his service as Chairman of the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board.
Ashton died of cancer at his home at Mosman on 1 September 1963. He was survived by three sons and by his second wife Winfreda Isabel Hoggard, whom he had married on 6 February 1961. His portrait was painted by William Dargie
and was bought by the Commonwealth Government.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, ROI
Royal Institute of Oil Painters
The Royal Institute of Oil Painters, also known as ROI, is an association of painters in London and is the only major art society which features work done only in oil. It is a member society of the Federation of British Artists.-History:...
(20 September 18811 September 1963) was a British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
-Australian artist and Director of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Art Gallery of New South Wales , located in The Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was established in 1897 and is the most important public gallery in Sydney and the fourth largest in Australia...
from 1937 to 1945.
Early life
Ashton was born on 20 September 1881 in Clifton, York, EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of James Ashton
James Ashton
James Ashton was an artist and arts educator in South Australia.Ashton was born on the Isle of Man, grew up in York and was educated at the Blue Coat School, London. After being apprenticed to a pharmacist, he studied art at the South Kensington School of Art, London and at Paris...
, an artist. The Ashtons migrated to Adelaide, South Australia and was educated at Prince Alfred College
Prince Alfred College
Prince Alfred College is an independent, day and boarding school for boys, located on Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town, near the centre of Adelaide, South Australia...
from 1889-1897. Upon graduating Ashton entered the life of an artist. In 1900 he left for England to work and spent several years from 1902-1903 at the Académie Julian
Académie Julian
The Académie Julian was an art school in Paris, France.Rodolphe Julian established the Académie Julian in 1868 at the Passage des Panoramas, as a private studio school for art students. The Académie Julian not only prepared students to the exams at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts, but offered...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Ashton had some of his works accepted by the Royal Academy of Arts, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and the Salon de la Société des Artistes Français
Société des artistes français
The Société des Artistes Français is the association of French painters and sculptors established in 1881. Its annual exhibition is called the Salon....
and returned to Adelaide in 1905. The sale of his work, "Boulevard Montparnasse, Paris", to the National Gallery of South Australia
Art Gallery of South Australia
The Art Gallery of South Australia , located on the cultural boulevard of North Terrace in Adelaide, is the premier visual arts museum in the Australian state of South Australia. It has a collection of over 35,000 works of art, making it, after the National Gallery of Victoria, the largest state...
enabled him to marry May Millman, on 31 January 1906 at Christ Church, North Adelaide
North Adelaide
North Adelaide is a predominantly residential precinct of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, situated north of the River Torrens and within the Adelaide Park Lands.-History:...
. After holding exhibitions in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide, in 1908 he won the Wynne Prize
Wynne Prize
The Wynne Prize is an Australian landscape painting or figure sculpture art prize. One of Australia's longest running art prizes, it was established in 1897 from the bequest of Richard Wynne...
for landscape.
In 1912-14 he painted in Britain, Europe and Egypt. He was back in Australia for a year, but returned to London with his family in 1915 to 1917. Others of his subsequent frequent overseas trips were in the company of Lionel Lindsay
Lionel Lindsay
Sir Lionel Arthur Lindsay was an Australian artist and brother of artist and illustrator Norman Lindsay.-Early life:...
or Charles Bryant
Charles David Jones Bryant
Charles David Jones Bryant , known as Charles Bryant, was an Australian marine artist.Bryant was born at Sydney, the fifth son of John Ambrose Bryant, storekeeper, and his wife Caroline, née Leedon. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School and studied the cello...
. The impressionist oil paintings he made on these trips always sold well on his return to Australia. He advised the National Gallery of South Australia
Art Gallery of South Australia
The Art Gallery of South Australia , located on the cultural boulevard of North Terrace in Adelaide, is the premier visual arts museum in the Australian state of South Australia. It has a collection of over 35,000 works of art, making it, after the National Gallery of Victoria, the largest state...
and private collectors, and supported his family by examining for the Royal Drawing Society
Royal Drawing Society
The Royal Drawing Society was founded in 1888 in Great Britain and Ireland, with the aim of teaching drawing for educational reasons.The methods of instruction were based on the idea that very young children attempt to draw before they can write. They have very astute perception and retentive memory...
of which he was a member. He won the Godfrey Rivers Bequest
Richard Godfrey Rivers
Richard Godfrey Rivers was an English artist, active in Australia and president of the Queensland Art Society from 1892-1901 and 1904-08....
prize in 1933 and 1938. Ashton also won the Wynne Prize for a second and third time in 1930 and in 1939.
Later life
In 1937 Ashton became Director of the National Art Gallery of New South WalesArt Gallery of New South Wales
The Art Gallery of New South Wales , located in The Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was established in 1897 and is the most important public gallery in Sydney and the fourth largest in Australia...
, and almost immediately had to organize the sesquicentennial exhibition of Australian art. During his tenure he improved the gallery lighting, but other plans were postponed because of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. From 1944-1947 he was also Director of David Jones Art Gallery
David Jones Limited
David Jones Limited , colloquially known as DJs, is a high-end Australian department store chain.David Jones was founded in 1838 by David Jones, a Welsh immigrant, and is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. It...
. A member of the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board from 1918, Ashton was chairman in 1953-1962. He was a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
Royal Institute of Oil Painters
The Royal Institute of Oil Painters, also known as ROI, is an association of painters in London and is the only major art society which features work done only in oil. It is a member society of the Federation of British Artists.-History:...
, a Vice-President of the Australian Painter-Etchers' Society, and a member of the Society of Artists
Society of Artists
The Society of Artists of Great Britain was founded in London in May 1761 by an association of artists in order to provide a venue for the public exhibition of recent work by living artists, such as was having success in the long-established Paris salons....
in Sydney, being awarded its medal in 1944.
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1941 and was made a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
on 11 June 1960 for his service as Chairman of the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board.
Ashton died of cancer at his home at Mosman on 1 September 1963. He was survived by three sons and by his second wife Winfreda Isabel Hoggard, whom he had married on 6 February 1961. His portrait was painted by William Dargie
William Dargie
Sir William Alexander Dargie CBE was an Australian painter, known especially for his portrait paintings. He holds the record for the most Archibald Prize wins; eight. He was an official Australian War Artist during World War II.- Biography :William Dargie was born in Footscray, Victoria, the first...
and was bought by the Commonwealth Government.