Jane Sutherland was an Australian landscape painter who was part of the pioneering plein-air movement in Australia, and a member of the Heidelberg School. Her advocacy to advance the professional standing of female artists during the late nineteenth century was also a notable achievement.
Jane Sutherland was born in New York to Scottish parents; the family emigrated to Sydney in 1864 and moved to Melbourne in 1870.
From 1878, Sutherland exhibited at the Victorian Academy of Arts, then with the Australian Artists’ Association, and with the Victorian Artists’ Society (from 1888) until 1911.
By the standards of the time, she was held in high regard for her artistry, which was supported by the fact she was reviewed on the same terms as male artists, rather than grouped in a general remark of works by lady artists in an exhibition.
Critics justified the distinction due to Sutherland’s landscapes being a comparable to the strong form of male artist’s work.
In 1884 she became one of the first women members of the Buonarotti Society, and in 1900 she and May Vale were the first women elected as Councillors of the Victorian Artists’ Society. During her years of active work, she was valued for her efforts in the visual arts scene of Melbourne.
Sutherland was the leading female artist in the group of Melbourne painters who worked outside the studio; she took plein-air sketching trips to the outlying rural districts of Alphington, Templestowe and Box Hill with her male contemporaries of the Heidelberg School.
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Sutherland’s body of work mainly focus on Australian landscapes with the inclusion of women and children interacting with nature.
Narrative is suggestive in her works as she leaves an impression of the land and her figures turn away from the viewer. Despite her efforts and success, Sutherland found difficulties in being considered a serious and professional artist.
Sutherland was force to price her paintings at a tenth of the value of her male peers.
In the early years of the 1900s, Sutherland suffered from a serious stroke and became fully reliant upon the care of her brother, William Sutherland. With William’s assistance for mobility, Sutherland was able to continue painting and exhibiting her work as well as teach art to a new generation. However, the impact of her illness can be seen by the diminishing the size of her works, from large canvases to small pastels.
Following William’s death in 1911, Sutherland was forced to retire and remained so until her death in 1928.
Unable to paint, it was during these years that she was gradually forgotten during the turn of the century. By the time of her passing on the 28th of July, there was little to no public acknowledgment. | Source: © Wikipedia
Jane Sutherland è stata una pittrice paesaggistica Australiana che faceva parte del movimento plein air in Australia e membro della scuola di Heidelberg.
Jane Sutherland è nata a New York da genitori scozzesi; la famiglia emigrò a Sydney nel 1864 e si trasferì a Melbourne nel 1870.
Dal 1878, Sutherland espose alla Victorian Academy of Arts, poi con l'Australian Artists' Association e con la Victorian Artists' Society dal 1888-1911.
Per gli standard dell'epoca, era tenuta in grande considerazione per la sua abilità artistica, il che è stato supportato dal fatto che è stata rivista agli stessi termini degli artisti uomini, piuttosto che raggruppata in un'osservazione generale di opere di artiste donne in una mostra.
I critici hanno giustificato la distinzione in quanto i paesaggi di Sutherland erano paragonabili alla forma forte del lavoro dell'artista maschile.
Nel 1884 divenne una delle prime donne socie della Società Buonarotti, e nel 1900 lei e May Valefurono le prime donne elette come Consigliere della Victorian Artists 'Society.
Sutherland era la principale artista femminile nel gruppo di pittori di Melbourne che lavoravano fuori dallo studio, in plein air.
Il lavoro di Sutherland si concentra principalmente sui paesaggi australiani con l'inclusione di donne e bambini che interagiscono con la natura. La narrazione nelle sue opere è suggestiva poiché lascia un'impressione della terra e le sue figure si allontanano dallo spettatore.
Nonostante i suoi sforzi e il suo successo, Sutherland ha avuto difficoltà ad essere considerata un'artista seria e professionale.
Sutherland è stata costretta a valutare i suoi dipinti ad un decimo del valore dei suoi coetanei maschi.
Nei primi anni del 1900, Sutherland soffrì di un grave ictus e divenne completamente dipendente dalle cure di suo fratello, William Sutherland.
Con l'assistenza di William per la mobilità, Sutherland è stata in grado di continuare a dipingere ed esporre le sue opere, oltre ad insegnare arte ad una nuova generazione. Tuttavia, l'impatto della sua malattia può essere visto dalla diminuzione delle dimensioni delle sue opere, dalle grandi tele ai piccoli pastelli.
Dopo la morte di William nel 1911, Sutherland fu costretta a ritirarsi e rimase tale fino alla sua morte nel 1928.
Incapace di dipingere, fu durante questi anni che fu gradualmente dimenticata all'inizio del secolo. Al momento della sua morte il 28 luglio, il riconoscimento pubblico era scarso o nullo.
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