Hugh Ramsay

Hugh Ramsay (25 May 1877 – 5 March 1906) was an Australian artist.

Hugh Ramsay (1902) by George Washington Lambert

Biography
Miss Nellie Patterson (1903), daughter of Ambrose Patterson, niece of Nellie Melba

Ramsay was born in Glasgow, Scotland, son of John Ramsay. He moved with his family to Melbourne in 1878. He was educated at Essendon Grammar School, and joined classes at the National Gallery of Victoria at age 16 under Lindsay Bernard Hall and became one of the most brilliant students ever trained there. He won several first prizes, and at the competition for the travelling scholarship held in 1899 was narrowly beaten by Max Meldrum, another student of unusual ability.[1]

Career

Ramsay went to Europe in September 1900 and was fortunate in finding a kindred spirit, George Washington Lambert, on the same vessel - the SS Persic. Arriving at Paris, he entered Académie Colarossi and was soon recognised as a student of great potential. He sent five pictures to the 1902 exhibition of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts and four of these were accepted and hung together. No greater compliment could have been paid to a young student.

Another Australian student whose studio was in the same building, Ambrose McCarthy Patterson (supported by Nellie Melba, then at the height of her fame, whose sister was married to Patterson’s brother). Ramsay was introduced to Melba, who gave him a commission for a portrait and would no doubt have been able to help him in his career.[2] Unfortunately Ramsay became seriously ill with tuberculosis and was advised to return to the warmer climate of Australia. He made a small preparatory paintings but was unable to complete the planned full length portrait of Melba.[3] Before leaving Europe, he had exhibited four pictures at the British Colonial Art Exhibition held in London at the Royal Institute galleries.[4]

The Sisters (1904)

Returning to Australia, in spite of failing health, Ramsay succeeded in doing some remarkable work including The Sisters (a portrait of his own sisters, 1904; Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney), Lady with a Fan (possibly his most famous painting), the portrait of David Scott Mitchell, and his own portrait, now in the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. He gradually became weaker and died at “Clydebank” Buckley Street, Essendon on 5 March 1906 a few weeks before completing his twenty-ninth year. He was buried in St Kilda Cemetery.

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References
  1. Fullerton, Patricia (1988). Hugh Ramsay (1877–1906). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University.
  2. Blainey, Ann. I am Melba: a biography. Melbourne: Black Inc. ISBN 9781863951838.
  3. Hart, Deborah (2019). Hugh Ramsey. National Gallery of Australia ARTONVIEW Summer 100.
  4. Fullerton, Patricia (1988). Hugh Ramsay, his life and work. Hawthorn, Victoria: Hudson. ISBN 0949873101.
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