Description

Extended Data

DAAO URL

https://www.daao.org.au/bio/george-sutherland

Birth Place

Scotland, UK

Biography

painter, sketcher, wood-engraver and wood carver, was born in Scotland. His father was a Glasgow carver of ship’s figureheads and George took up his father’s trade. George Sutherland married Jane Smith in about 1851; their first son, Alexander, was born at Glasgow in March 1852. Because of George’s ill health, the three migrated to the United States; a daughter Jane (the later Heidelberg School painter) was born in New York in December 1853. The family returned to Scotland soon afterwards and a second son, another George, was born at Dumbarton in October 1855. In 1864 George Sutherland and his family set sail for New South Wales. He is known to have been painting at this stage and a number of small watercolours he made on the voyage, including Ile de Mahe, Seychelles , have survived in private collections. The family settled in Sydney, where in September 1865 Sutherland advertised an 'Evening Class for freehand sketching’ to be held on Tuesdays and Fridays at 71 Stanley Street. In 1870 the family moved to Melbourne and Sutherland became a teacher of drawing with the Victorian Board of Education. In January 1875 he applied for appointment as Drawing Master for State Schools in the Carlton district and the following July notified his intention of attending the examination for the Drawing Teachers’ Certificate. In October 1876 he commenced teaching in the Ballarat and Clunes district. He appears to have resigned from the Board of Education in 1878. Sutherland exhibited three 'well-executed’ chalk portraits at the Victorian Intercolonial Exhibition in 1872. He became a member of the Victorian Academy of Arts in 1875 and exhibited there in 1875 ( Compulsory Education and A Slight Cold ), 1877 ( A Friendly Game) , and 1878 ( Ferns for Christmas ). Sutherland was colour-blind and had to seek assistance to distinguish colours. This restricted his painting and explains why he concentrated on sketches. A number of sketches of his children are held by family members. His proficiency as a sketcher qualified him for a later appointment as artist and woodblock engraver for the Melbourne illustrated press. Sutherland died in 1885, survived by his wife and their five sons and three daughters. All were notable participants in Melbourne artistic and academic circles: Alexander, founder and principal of Carlton College, historian and writer of educational textbooks, journalist, and Registrar and lecturer in English literature at the University of Melbourne; Jane, painter; George, historian and journalist, and father of both painter Ruth Sutherland and composer Margaret Sutherland; William, physicist and journalist; Julia, music teacher; James, science teacher; John, actuary and philosopher; and Jessie, lieder singer. Writers: Rosewarne, Stuart Date written: 1992 Last updated: 2011

Born

b. 1829

Summary

Despite ill-health and colour-blindness, George Sutherland was the father of eight children and a prolific artmaker. He concentrated more on sketching due to his impairment, but it did not hamper his abilities either as a teacher or as an artist and engraver.

Gender

Male

Died

1885

Age at death

56