Alison Rehfisch
Encyclopedia
Alison Baily Rehfisch was an Australian painter born in Sydney
. She was born Alison Baily Green in Woollahra, Sydney, and grew up in Mosman. Her mother, who was a proficient sculptor, painter and musician, encouraged her interest in painting and drawing. As a student at Redlands School, Cremorne
from 1913–15, she was influenced by the painter Albert Collins
.
On leaving school, she studied at Julian Ashton
's Art School before marrying in 1919 and as Alison Rehfisch studied around 1925 under Antonio Dattilo Rubbo at the Royal Art Society. It was here she met George Duncan
and they began sharing studio space. She began exhibiting at the Blaxland Gallery in 1929 and it was around this time that she and her husband split up and she moved into a studio apartment with Dorrit Black, Rah Fizelle, Thea Proctor
and Adelaide Perry. She left for London
in 1933, where she studied, worked and travelled, including a 3-month stay in Spain. After hearing of her husband's death in 1938, she returned to Sydney
and in 1942 married George Duncan
.
In 1947 their home burnt down and Alison lost several hundred paintings. Friends arranged an auction at the home of Desiderius Orban
. She and George moved to the country and took to painting landscapes around Berrima
, Moss Vale
and Goulburn
but returned to Sydney in 1953 when George secured a position as director of David Jones
Art Gallery. They bought a house "Hillgrove" in Pymble which she decorated extensively, but spent little time on more mundane tasks. She was active with the Contemporary Art Society and the Contemporary Group. She continued to paint her still lifes and landscapes but concentrated more on flower paintings, which lowered her reputation as a serious painter.
After George died of cancer in 1974, she was inconsolable and less than a year later, with deteriorating eyesight and suffering depression, took her own life by swallowing poison.
in 1933, 1939, 1946, 1949 and 1958
A joint retrospective of George's and Alison's work was held at Macquarie Galleries in 1976.
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. She was born Alison Baily Green in Woollahra, Sydney, and grew up in Mosman. Her mother, who was a proficient sculptor, painter and musician, encouraged her interest in painting and drawing. As a student at Redlands School, Cremorne
Cremorne, New South Wales
Cremorne is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Cremorne is located 6 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of North Sydney Council....
from 1913–15, she was influenced by the painter Albert Collins
Albert Collins (painter)
Albert E. Collins was an Australian painter, teacher and actor born in New Zealand. After a successful career in painting and teaching he joined ABC radio, where he gave pleasure to a generation of children as "Joe" of the Children's Session and the main character in the long-running serial...
.
On leaving school, she studied at Julian Ashton
Julian Ashton
Julian Rossi Ashton was an Australian artist and teacher, known for his support of the Heidelberg School and for his influential art school in Sydney....
's Art School before marrying in 1919 and as Alison Rehfisch studied around 1925 under Antonio Dattilo Rubbo at the Royal Art Society. It was here she met George Duncan
George Duncan (painter)
George Bernard Duncan was an Australian painter born in Aotearoa, New Zealand.He studied around 1925 under Dattilo Rubbo at the Royal Art Society. It was here he met Alison Rehfisch and they began sharing studio space....
and they began sharing studio space. She began exhibiting at the Blaxland Gallery in 1929 and it was around this time that she and her husband split up and she moved into a studio apartment with Dorrit Black, Rah Fizelle, Thea Proctor
Thea Proctor
Althea Mary Proctor was, with Margaret Preston and Grace Cossington Smith, one of the most famous Australian woman artists of her time. She was born in Armidale, New South Wales, New South Wales, to solicitor and politician William Consett Proctor and his wife Katherine Louise...
and Adelaide Perry. She left for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1933, where she studied, worked and travelled, including a 3-month stay in Spain. After hearing of her husband's death in 1938, she returned to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and in 1942 married George Duncan
George Duncan (painter)
George Bernard Duncan was an Australian painter born in Aotearoa, New Zealand.He studied around 1925 under Dattilo Rubbo at the Royal Art Society. It was here he met Alison Rehfisch and they began sharing studio space....
.
In 1947 their home burnt down and Alison lost several hundred paintings. Friends arranged an auction at the home of Desiderius Orban
Desiderius Orban
Desiderius Orban OBE was a renowned Hungarian-born Australian painter, printmaker and teacher. He was influenced by the paintings of Henri Matisse, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne.-Biography:...
. She and George moved to the country and took to painting landscapes around Berrima
Berrima, New South Wales
Berrima is an historic village in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. The village, once a major town, is located on the Old Hume Highway between Canberra and Sydney. It was previously known officially as the Town of Berrima...
, Moss Vale
Moss Vale, New South Wales
Moss Vale is a town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. It has a population of 7,339 and is sited on the Illawarra Highway, which connects to Wollongong and the Illawarra coast via Macquarie Pass...
and Goulburn
Goulburn, New South Wales
Goulburn is a provincial city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Goulburn Mulwaree Council Local Government Area. It is located south-west of Sydney on the Hume Highway and above sea-level. On Census night 2006, Goulburn had a population of 20,127 people...
but returned to Sydney in 1953 when George secured a position as director of David Jones
David Jones Limited
David Jones Limited , colloquially known as DJs, is a high-end Australian department store chain.David Jones was founded in 1838 by David Jones, a Welsh immigrant, and is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. It...
Art Gallery. They bought a house "Hillgrove" in Pymble which she decorated extensively, but spent little time on more mundane tasks. She was active with the Contemporary Art Society and the Contemporary Group. She continued to paint her still lifes and landscapes but concentrated more on flower paintings, which lowered her reputation as a serious painter.
After George died of cancer in 1974, she was inconsolable and less than a year later, with deteriorating eyesight and suffering depression, took her own life by swallowing poison.
Exhibitions
She held exhibitions at Blaxland Gallery in 1933 and Macquarie GalleriesMacquarie Galleries
Macquarie Galleries was a Sydney, Australia private art gallery established in 1925 by John Henry Young and Basil Burdett. It was located at "Strathkyle", 19 Bligh Street Sydney then moved to 40 King Street in 1945....
in 1933, 1939, 1946, 1949 and 1958
A joint retrospective of George's and Alison's work was held at Macquarie Galleries in 1976.