Edith Lilla Holmes (9 March 189326 August 1973) was an Australian artist active in Tasmania.

Early life

Holmes was born on 9 March 1893 in

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilt ...

, Tasmania, Australia, the third of five children. Her father, William Nassau Holmes, was an Irish schoolmaster and her mother, Lilla Edith (''

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

''Thorne), was a Tasmanian-born teacher. Holmes spent her childhood in Hamilton, Devonport and Scottsdale, until her family settled down in Moonah. Her mother recognised Holmes' "good sense of colour" from a young age and encouraged her to pursue art. Holmes attended the Hobart Technical College from 1918 to 1935, where she studied art under the tutelage of

Lucien Dechaineux Florent Vincent Emile Lucien Dechaineux (15 July 18694 April 1957) was a Belgian-born Australian artist active in Tasmania. Early life Dechaineux was born on 15 July 1869 in Liège, Belgium to François Prosper Dechaineux and his wife Josephin ...

and

Mildred Lovett Mildred Esther Lovett (13 September 1880 – 23 March 1955) was a figure in the early 20th century Tasmanian and Australian art scene, known as a teacher and as an artist. Artistic career Lovett studied at Mrs H. Barnard's Ladies School, Hobart ...

. From 1930 to 1931, she also took classes at the Sydney Art School under

Julian Ashton Julian Rossi Ashton (27 January 185127 April 1942) was an English-born Australian artist and teacher. He is best known for founding the Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney and encouraging Australian painters to capture local life and scenery '' ...

and

Henry Gibbons Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) *Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal ...

. It was there that she became acquainted with

Thea Proctor Thea may refer to: * Thea (name), a given name * Ancient Greek term for goddess, including an alternative spelling of Theia * ''Thea'', the former name of the tea plant genus, now included in ''Camellia'' * Thea, a village in the municipal unit Mes ...

and George Lambert.

Career

In the 1930s, Holmes operated a studio in Hobart together with Lovett,

Florence Rodway Florence Aline Rodway (11 November 1881 – 23 January 1971) was an Australian artist best known for her portraits. Born in the Tasmanian city of Hobart, she was the second of six children to Leonard Rodway and Louisa Susan, née Phillips. She ...

Dorothy Stoner Dorothy Kate Stoner (28 November 1904 – 18 November 1992) was an Australian artist and teacher. She was known for her pastels and modernistic paintings. Born in Sussex, England on 27 November 1904, Stoner moved to Tasmania in 1921. She studie ...

Ethel Nicholls Ethel (also ''Aethel, æthel'') is an Old English word meaning "noble", today often used as a feminine given name. Etymology and historic usage The word means ''æthel'' "noble". It is frequently attested as the first element in Anglo-Saxon n ...

, and

Violet Vimpany Violet Emma Vimpany (née Alomes, 15 April 1886 – 2 March 1979) was an Australian painter and etcher, and in later life also a master stonemason. She was an active member of, and regular exhibitor with, the Art Society of Tasmania. Her work is ...

. Her work was well-received by critics and from 1938 to 1951, she had seven exhibitions in Melbourne, where she met artists Danila Vassilieff,

Eveline Syme Eveline Syme (26 October 1888 – 6 June 1961) was an Australian artist associated with the Grosvenor School of Modern Art, and an advocate for women's post-secondary education. Early life Eveline Winifred Syme was born in Thames Ditton, Surrey, ...

George Bell George Bell may refer to: Law and politics * George Joseph Bell (1770–1843), Scottish jurist and legal author * George Alexander Bell (1856–1927), Canadian pioneer and Saskatchewan politician * George Bell (Canadian politician) (1869–1940) ...

, and

Arnold Shaw Arnold Shaw may refer to: * Arnold Shaw (politician) (1909–1984), British politician * Arnold Shaw (writer) (1909–1989), American music writer {{hndis, Shaw, Arnold ...

. Holmes' annual exhibitions from 1927 to 1972 were supported by the Tasmanian Art Society, whose council Holmes was a member of from 1930 to 1952. She was among the founding members of the Tasmanian Group of Painters in 1940. In 1954, Holmes won a special prize at an art competition commemorating the sesquicentenary of Hobart. In 1958, she held an exhibition at Tasmania House in London. Two of Holmes' self-portraits, painted in the 1930s, are housed at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Holmes was also an active participant of the Victoria League, the English Speaking Union, and the Women's Non-Party League of Tasmania. She was a life member of the United Nations Association's Tasmanian division.

Death and recognition

Holmes died on 26 August 1973 in Hobart, aged 80. She was buried in Forcett Cemetery. In 2003, the Moonah Arts Centre held an exhibition in tribute to Holmes' life. In 2005, she was inducted into the Tasmanian Government's Honour Roll of Women for her contributions to art in Tasmania.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holmes, Edith Lilla 1893 births 1973 deaths 20th-century Australian painters Artists from Tasmania 20th-century Australian women artists Australian women painters Australian people of Irish descent