Violet Helen Evangeline Teague (21 February 1872 – 30 September 1951) was an Australian artist, noted for her painting and printmaking.
Early life and training
The only daughter of Melbourne homeopath James Teague and his wife Eliza Jane Miller, Teague was born on 21 February 1872 in Melbourne. Her mother died while she was an infant, and she was raised by her father and his second wife, Sybella, along with Sybella's two children. Teague was taught by a governess at home, and her education included French and the
classics
Classics or classical studies is the study of classical antiquity. In the Western world, classics traditionally refers to the study of Classical Greek and Roman literature and their related original languages, Ancient Greek and Latin. Classics ...
. She completed college at the
Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne
, motto_translation = The law of God is the Lamp of Life
, established = 1875
, type = Independent, single-sex, day and boarding, Christian school
, denomination = Presbyterian
, princ ...
.
Teague travelled with her family in Europe as a young woman. She toured widely, and visited galleries in Germany, France, Belgium the Netherlands and England. In 1901, she recalled visiting Spanish galleries during her childhood, and commented "never shall I forget the Velazquez, with their beautiful horses and exquisite colouring, or the lovely Raphaels". She studied in the Brussels studio of
Ernest Blanc-Garin
Ernest Blanc-Garin or Ernest-Stanislas Blanc-Garin (8 October 1843 – 1916) was a French painter.
Blanc-Garin was born in Givet on 8 October 1843. He studied at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. He trained many student in his w ...
and with
Sir Hubert von Herkomer
Sir Hubert von Herkomer (born as Hubert Herkomer; 26 May 1849 – 31 March 1914) was a Bavarian-born British painter, pioneering film-director, and composer. Though a very successful portrait artist, especially of men, he is mainly remembered fo ...
in England.
Career
Teague exhibited regularly at the Paris Salons, including with a portrait of a Colonel Rede in 1897 at the
Société des Artistes Français
The Société des Artistes Français (, meaning "Society of French Artists") is the association of French painters and sculptors established in 1881. Its annual exhibition is called the "Salon des artistes français" (not to be confused with the ...
.
In 1902 she was appointed to the council of the
Victorian Artists Society
The Victorian Artists Society, which can trace its establishment to 1856 in Melbourne, promotes artistic education, art classes and gallery hire exhibition in Australia. It was formed in March 1888 when the Victorian Academy of Arts (previously Vi ...
which published her poem ''
'A Cloud Fantasy in its journal.
She was "the first Australian to demonstrate a sustained interest in, and an understanding of Japanese woodblock printmaking". Printing from woodblock had a
long history in Japan. She collaborated in woodcuts with her friend
Geraldine Rede, publishing ''
Night Fall in the Ti-Tree
''Night Fall in the Ti-Tree'' is a 1905 artist's book by Violet Teague and Geraldine Rede. It is about a family of rabbits and is known as the first Australian work using colour relief printing.
Publication history
*1905, Australia, Sign o ...
'' together from her
Collins Street studio in 1905.
The 32 page Haiku-style text tells the story of the simple life of bushland rabbits with 16 coloured woodblock illustrations.
This collaborative little book is the first example of coloured woodblock printing in Australia, and also the first Australian artists' book.
Her painting ''Boy with a Palette'' won a silver prize from the Old Salon, Paris when exhibited in 1920, and was later hung at the
Royal Academy of Arts
The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its purpo ...
, London.
Following the 1920 Paris Salon, Australian artist
Rupert Bunny
Rupert Charles Wulsten Bunny (29 September 186425 May 1947) was an Australian painter. Born and raised in Melbourne, Victoria, he achieved success and critical acclaim as an expatriate in '' fin-de-siècle'' Paris. He gained an honourable mentio ...
wrote to Teague, and observed that ''The Boy with the Pallette'' was one of the best works in that year's exhibition at the Old Salon.
![Night Fall in the Ti-Tree](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Night_Fall_in_the_Ti-Tree.jpg)
One of the most unusual aspects of Teague's ''oeuvre'', one that lacks almost any referents in Australian art, was the creation of altar paintings and banners for Protestant churches. The first was a 1910 commission (now in the
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 ...
art gallery)
for a church in Wannon, Victoria, where her brother worshipped. The frame for the work was designed by her friend, artist
Jessie Traill
Jessie Constance Alicia Traill (29 July 1881 – 15 May 1967) was an Australian printmaker. Trained by Frederick McCubbin at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School, and by painter and printmaker Frank Brangwyn in London, Traill worked in ...
. In 1921, Teague exhibited an altar piece (now at St. Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne)
[ for a new church at ]Kinglake, Victoria
Kinglake is a town in Victoria, Australia, north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shires of Murrindindi and Nillumbik local government areas. Kinglake recorded a population of 1,662 at the 2021 census.
...
, built as a memorial to soldiers who died in World War I. Inscriptions to accompany the picture were again prepared by Traill, and placed on the base of the work. The painting was Teague's most prominent work at a solo exhibition held at the Melbourne Athenaeum
The Athenaeum or Melbourne Athenaeum is an art and cultural hub in the Melbourne city centre, central business district of Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1839, it is the city's oldest cultural institution.
It ...
in 1921.
In 1933 Teague and her sister Una travelled across the outback by car to visit the Hermannsburg Mission. The Mission had recently suffered a drought resulting in the deaths of a third of the Aboriginal population. The sisters helped raise more than £2,000 towards a pipeline to help transport water to the Mission. She also met famed Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira
Albert Namatjira (born Elea Namatjira; 28 July 1902 – 8 August 1959) was an Arrernte painter from the MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia, widely considered one of the greatest and most influential Australian artists. As a pioneer of cont ...
, who named one of his children after her.
Exhibitions
Victorian Artists' Society
The Victorian Artists Society, which can trace its establishment to 1856 in Melbourne, promotes artistic education, art classes and gallery hire exhibition in Australia. It was formed in March 1888 when the Victorian Academy of Arts (previously Vi ...
, Winter Exhibition 905''Victorian Artists Society Galleries (14 July 1905 - 19 August 1905)''
Eight Federal Art Exhibition, Society of Artists' ''Royal South Australian Society of Arts Gallery (10 November 1905 - 2 December 1905)''
Victorian Artists' Society
The Victorian Artists Society, which can trace its establishment to 1856 in Melbourne, promotes artistic education, art classes and gallery hire exhibition in Australia. It was formed in March 1888 when the Victorian Academy of Arts (previously Vi ...
, Annual Exhibition 906
__NOTOC__
Year 906 ( CMVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Europe
* February 27 – Battle of Fritzlar: The Conradines defeat the Babenberg co ...
''Victorian Artists Society Galleries (1 January 1906 - 1906)''
First Australian Exhibition of Women's Work 907
__NOTOC__
Year 907 ( CMVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Byzantine Empire
* Rus'–Byzantine War: Varangian prince Oleg of Novgorod leads the ...
''Multiple venues (23 October 1907 - 30 November 1907)''
xhibition''Bradley's Rooms (1 September 1908)''
The Arts and Crafts Society of Victoria 908
__NOTOC__
Year 908 ( CMVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Byzantine Empire
* May 15 – The three-year-old Constantine VII, the son of Emperor L ...
''Guild Hall (2 December 1908 - 12 December 1908)''
Victorian Artists' Society
The Victorian Artists Society, which can trace its establishment to 1856 in Melbourne, promotes artistic education, art classes and gallery hire exhibition in Australia. It was formed in March 1888 when the Victorian Academy of Arts (previously Vi ...
, Winter Exhibition 909
__NOTOC__
Year 909 ( CMIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Britain
* King Edward the Elder and his sister, Princess Æthelflæd of Mercia, raid Danish ...
''Victorian Artists Society Galleries (1 July 1909)''
Victorian Artists' Society
The Victorian Artists Society, which can trace its establishment to 1856 in Melbourne, promotes artistic education, art classes and gallery hire exhibition in Australia. It was formed in March 1888 when the Victorian Academy of Arts (previously Vi ...
, Annual Exhibition 911
911 or 9/11 may refer to:
Dates
* AD 911
* 911 BC
* September 11
** 9/11, the September 11 attacks of 2001
** 11 de Septiembre, Chilean coup d'état in 1973 that outed the democratically elected Salvador Allende
* November 9
Numbers
* 911 ...
''Victorian Artists Society Galleries (1911)''
Victorian Artists' Society
The Victorian Artists Society, which can trace its establishment to 1856 in Melbourne, promotes artistic education, art classes and gallery hire exhibition in Australia. It was formed in March 1888 when the Victorian Academy of Arts (previously Vi ...
, Annual Exhibition 912
Year 912 ( CMXII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
__NOTOC__
Events By place Byzantine Empire
* May 11 – Emperor Leo VI (the Wise) dies after a 26-year reign in wh ...
''Victorian Artists Society Galleries (12 July 1912 - 10 August 1912)''
Victorian Artists' Society
The Victorian Artists Society, which can trace its establishment to 1856 in Melbourne, promotes artistic education, art classes and gallery hire exhibition in Australia. It was formed in March 1888 when the Victorian Academy of Arts (previously Vi ...
, Annual Exhibition 914
__NOTOC__
Year 914 ( CMXIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Byzantine Empire
* Spring – Empress Zoe Karbonopsina leads a palace coup at Constantino ...
''Victorian Artists Society Galleries (29 April 1914 - 23 May 1914)''
Australian Artists' War Fund exhibition 915
Year 915 ( CMXV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place Europe
* Summer – Battle of Garigliano: The Christian League, personally led by Pope John X, lays s ...
''Vickery's Chambers''
Arts and Crafts Society Exhibition ''Federal Court House (12 November 1919 - 26 November 1919)''
Representative collection of Australian art ''Margaret Maclean's Gallery (1 November 1940 - 1 December 1940)''
Published works
Birds of the sunny south, with Australian flowers
/ ''produced entirely by Australians (V. Teague, G. Rede, I. Gregory, A. Ashley)'' elbourne1915(?) : Pater's Printery
Night fall in the ti-tree
/ ''woodcuts by Geraldine Rede and Violet Teague,'' elbourne1905 : Sign of the Rabbit
Legacy
Teague has been reckoned among the best portraitists Australia has produced. Teague has also been identified as one of Australia's first female art critics.
Teague Street in the Canberra suburb of Cook
Cook or The Cook may refer to:
Food preparation
* Cooking, the preparation of food
* Cook (domestic worker), a household staff member who prepares food
* Cook (professional), an individual who prepares food for consumption in the food industry
* ...
is named in her honour.
Further reading
Papers of Violet Teague
890-2000 anuscript ''State Library Victoria
State Library Victoria (SLV) is the state library of Victoria, Australia. Located in Melbourne, it was established in 1854 as the Melbourne Public Library, making it Australia's oldest public library and one of the first free libraries in the ...
''
Violet Teague
ustralian art and artists file ''State Library Victoria
State Library Victoria (SLV) is the state library of Victoria, Australia. Located in Melbourne, it was established in 1854 as the Melbourne Public Library, making it Australia's oldest public library and one of the first free libraries in the ...
''
References
Notes
Bibliography
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Teague, Violet
1872 births
1951 deaths
Australian women painters
Australian painters
Artists from Melbourne
Australian art critics
Australian women art critics
20th-century Australian women artists
20th-century Australian artists
19th-century Australian women artists
People educated at the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne
National Gallery of Victoria Art School alumni