The Bride (June Ashley-Wilson)
Hilda Rix Nicholas
Details
- Artist
- Hilda Rix Nicholas
- Title
- The Bride (June Ashley-Wilson)
- Year
- c.1938
- Medium
- oil on canvas
- Size
- 98 x 94 cm
- Details
signed lower left
Provenance
the Estate of the artist
Exhibited
XV Group exhibition, Sydney, October 1939
Paris to Monaro: Pleasures from the studio of Hilda Rix Nicholas, National Portrait Gallery, 2013
Literature
Paris to Monaro: Pleasures from the studio of Hilda Rix Nicholas, National Portrait Gallery, 2013, col illus p. 215
Further Information
"In 1938, the artist began work on a portrait of June Ashley-Wilson, daughter of Dorothy's [Dorothy Richmond, friend and travelling companion of the artist who appeared in her work, most famously as Une Australienne in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia] sister Jocelyn, who was dear to Rix Nicholas though she lacked close attention to detail as a governess [for the artist's son, Rix]. ...
June and I are sitting before the fire in Long Room - she reading 'That Brave Heart' and I writing - This afternoon was our third sitting on portrait of June - I know you'd love the beginning. It will be unusual - & classic & lovely in colour - She is standing near the Belgian cabinet & lovely golden light from the side window & cool light from the big window - delicate and lovely on her fair hair & skin - her frock is medieval in character & ivory embossed satin (doesn't show embossing) orange blossom around her golden head - She is to be holding a sheaf of golden lilies - on arm - lovely simple pale colours ivory and soft grey-green of tapestry (from Square Hall) and only 'live' colour coral lips - Dignified - & not a bit "pretty pretty" ... [letter to Dorothy Richmond]"
Paris to Monaro: Pleasures from the studio of Hilda Rix Nicholas, National Portrait Gallery, 2013, pp. 62 & 73