Tauranga Art Gallery - Toi Tauranga

FRANCES HODGKINS: femme du monde - Sat 3rd Jul 2010 - Sun 5th Sep 2010

Frances Hodgkins is considered one of New Zealand's most prestigious and influential painters, an esteem not bestowed upon her during her lifetime due to her Post-Impressionist style not conforming to the traditional New Zealand landscapes of the time.

Born in Dunedin, Hodgkins moved to Europe, and later England, in the early 1900s where she established herself as a painter and enjoyed success. In 1908, Hodgkins became the first woman to be appointed instructor at the Acadamie Calarossi, one of the city's leading art schools. However the outbreak of World War I forced her to relocate to Cornwall, England, where she had more time to concentrate on her painting. She referred to this period as her 'experimental years', and by 1927 she was able to finally give up teaching and become a full-time painter, exhibiting with many galleries throughout London.

Toward the end of her years, Hodgkins finally gained the acclaim she deserved, and her works were highly sought after. At the time of her death in 1947, aged 78, Hodgkins was regarded as one of Britain's leading artists.

Femme du monde draws from the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Collection, and also contains works from private collections in the Bay of Plenty, including that of local eccentric, 'Springheel Jack'.



FRANCES HODGKINS, AN EXTRAORDINARY PAINTER By Penelope Jackson




Courtesy of Dunedin Public Gallery 


Sponsored by CooneyLeesMorgan 

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The Local Connection

Michael Hodgkins, or Springheel Jack as he was dubbed due to his peculiar gait, was Frances Hodgkins' nephew. An avid botanist, Michael (1902 - 1965) lived in a hut by the old salt marsh in Otumoetai, without electricity or running water. The inside of his hut was surrounded with paintings by his aunt, that he inherited from his father, and that he used to keep out the drafts. Michael walked great distances in search of botanical specimens and often shared his knowledge of plants with local schools.

Michael's eccentricity provided inspiration for Frank Sargeson's character Matthew in his autobiographical essay 'Up onto the roof and down again', and Ian Mune's tramp, Rotten Fred (The Mad Dog Gang meets Rotten Fred & Ratsguts, 1977).