HODGKINS, Frances 1869–1947

Born Dunedin, second daughter of W. Hodgkins, barrister and solicitor and painter; educated at private schools in Dunedin. Began to exhibit in 1890 but at first was overshadowed by her sister Isabel. In 1893 took lessons from Nerli (q.v.), 1895–96 attended Dunedin School of Art and passed South Kensington exams; gave classes and did illustrative work. She made two long visits to Europe 1901–03 and 1906–16; attended Norman Garstin's sketching classes, travelled and painted in France, Italy, Morocco, Belgium and Holland and gave sketching classes herself. Exhibited in England (RA and Royal Institute of Watercolours) and in Paris sent back work also to New Zealand. In 1908, with Thea Proctor, she won first prize in the Australian section of women's art at the Franco-British exhibition in London; in 1910 she gave watercolour classes at Colarossi's in Paris. Though she came back to New Zealand, to Wellington as in 1903, she only stayed a year and returned to work permanently in Europe. By now she painted in oils and gouache as well as water-colour, her work steadily became more adventurous and by 1933 she was admired by and exhibited with the then avant garde painters Paul Nash, Ivon Hitchens and John Piper. A retrospective exhibition of her work was held in the Lefebre Gallery in London during the last year of her life. Two books were published in England on Frances Hodgkins, and two in New Zealand: Frances Hodgkins in Penguin Modern Painters by Myfanwy Piper, Frances Hodgkins: Four Vital Years by Arthur R. Howell pub. 1951; and Works of Frances Hodgkins and The Expatriate, both pub. 1954 and both by page 127 E. H. McCormick. Exhibited: Auckland Mining and Industrial Ex Auckland 1898. Work included in Centennial Ex Wtn 1940. Represented in major New Zealand galleries, in New South Wales and South Australian galleries, and in many English galleries including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Tate Gallery.