Herbert Edward Powell (19 July? 1871 – 31 August 1940), commonly referred to as H. E. Powell, was a painter and photolithographer in Adelaide, South Australia. He was an important member of the South Australian Society of Arts.

History

Powell was born in Adelaide, son of baker William Powell, for whom Powell's Corner, Kent Town, was named. He was a student at the School of Design 1887–1900 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 ...

, gaining several diplomas from the

South Kensington Art School The Royal College of Art (RCA) is a public research university in London, United Kingdom, with campuses in South Kensington, Battersea and White City. It is the only entirely postgraduate art and design university in the United Kingdom. It offer ...

. He joined the Public Service in 1887, and worked in the Government photolithography department under Alfred Vaughan until succeeding him as Government photolithographer in 1921. The photolithographic department was responsible for production of much of the South Australian photographic resources used by the Education Department, Tourist Bureau and other departments. He was a member of Gill's exclusive but short-lived

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 ...

, which folded in 1892 when many of its members joined the moribund South Australian Society of Arts in order to bring it back to life. Three of its members (Gill, W. K. Gold and Powell) were elected president, secretary and treasurer respectively. The new committee consisted of A. Scott Broad, M. F. Cavanagh, J. Keane, G. A. Reynolds, W. J. Wadham. He was one of those responsible in 1898 for initiating the annual Federal Exhibition of Australian Art, through which many paintings were acquired for the National Gallery's Australia Room, through the

Elder Bequest An elder is someone with a degree of seniority or authority. Elder or elders may refer to: Positions Administrative * Elder (administrative title), a position of authority Cultural * North American Indigenous elder, a person who has and tr ...

. Powell was a member of its Selection and Hanging Committee almost every year until 1921. Powell was a member of the St. Andrew's Lodge of Freemasons, and a prominent lawn bowls player.

Family

Powell married Adelaide Mary Malin on 16 December 1903. She died on 23 April 1913. He then married Hilda Cordelia Boyce (died 1960) of Semaphore on 17 February 1916. They had a home at 61 First Avenue,

Sefton Park, South Australia Sefton Park is a suburb about 6 km north east of the Adelaide Central business district, CBD, South Australia and lies in both the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and the City of Prospect. It borders the suburbs Enfield, South Australia, Enfi ...

. Frederick Charles Powell (c. 1859–1924), advertising agent, and father of Ivy Powell, who married

Harold Smyrk Harold Nelson Smyrk (16 September 1889 – 10 November 1956) was an Australian diving champion who represented Great Britain at the 1908 Olympic Games in London. History Smyrk was born in Melbourne, where his father Herbert Moesbury Smyrk (186 ...

, was a brother.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Powell, Herbert Australian lithographers Australian painters 1871 births 1940 deaths