George Alfred Reynolds (26 November 1854 – 8 April 1939) was an artist and art teacher in South Australia. Reynolds was born the second son of Stephen James Reynolds of "Sandsworth", Birmingham, and studied at the

Birmingham School of Art The Birmingham School of Art was a municipal art school based in the centre of Birmingham, England. Although the organisation was absorbed by Birmingham Polytechnic in 1971 and is now part of Birmingham City University's Faculty of Arts, Design a ...

for six years, then was appointed him to one of the school's branches by head master Edward R. Taylor; shortly afterwards he gained the Art Master's Certificate in London. He accepted the position of first assistant in Adelaide's School of Design under

H. P. Gill Harry Pelling Gill (9 March 1855 – 25 May 1916), commonly referred to as H. P. Gill or Harry P. Gill, was an English-born Australian art curator, teacher and painter, who lived in Adelaide, South Australia for much of his life. Background Gi ...

, which position he held 1887–1891. During that time, Mr. Reynolds was frequently employed by the Inspector-General of Schools to produce illustrations for the reading books used by State schools, then was appointed art master with the Education Department, supervising art examinations in city and suburban schools, and art instruction at the Teachers' Training College in Grote Street. He was also responsible for the art curriculum in South Australian public schools, and designed eleven drawing books for their use. He was an active member of the South Australian Society of Arts 1887–1899, and was a founding member of the

Adelaide Art Circle The Adelaide Art Circle was an association of artists in Adelaide, South Australia, founded by H. P. Gill. The club was founded early in 1890, with Gill as president and G. A. Reynolds as hon. secretary. According to the rules as laid down by Gil ...

and

Adelaide Easel Club The Adelaide Easel Club was a society for South Australian painters which broke away from the South Australian Society of Arts in 1892 and which re-merged with the parent organization in 1901. History The club was founded in November 1892 when a g ...

. At their annual exhibitions his paintings and copperplate etchings were noted for their high standard, and he was the first in South Australia to etch and print a copperplate etching of any importance. In 1899, he was appointed director of the Ballarat Technical Art School, succeeding Carew Smith, who had accepted the position of inspector of drawing in Victorian State schools. He resigned from Ballarat in 1905 and in 1906 founded an art school in Mount Gambier, then was appointed to the Education Department, serving for 26 years in Mount Gambier, where after retirement at age 76 he continued to live and create until his death in 1939.

Family

Reynolds married Mary Jane "Jeannie" Korff (1 February 1857 – 26 May 1925) of Gawler on 27 December 1888; they had two children: *Rudolf F. Reynolds (25 November 1890 – 21 Mar 1978) of Melbourne *Bertha M. Reynolds (18 April 1895 – 14 July 1981) of Mount Gambier Their home for many years was Penola Road, then Wyatt Street, Mount Gambier.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reynolds, G. A. 1854 births 1939 deaths Australian art teachers Australian etchers Australian engravers 19th-century Australian painters 20th-century Australian painters 20th-century engravers Colony of South Australia people