HUGH RAMSAY (1877-1906) Interior with Figure, circa 1902

HUGH RAMSAY (1877-1906)
Interior with Figure, circa 1902

oil on canvas
signed verso: Hugh Ramsay
59.5 x 49cm

PROVENANCE
Sir John Longstaff
John Rowell acquired from the estate of Sir John Longstaff, 1942
Thence by descent

CATALOGUE ESSAY
Hugh Ramsay, who died in 1906 aged twenty-eight is one of Australia's most gifted artists. Although his career spanned scarcely a decade, he was prolific, accomplished and mature beyond his years. His name might not be widely known today, yet by certain artists and scholars it has been hallowed for over a century. Described as a 'painter's painter', his work has been a major influence on several leading Australian artists. 1.
This work has not been exhibited or shown in any display and has been held in the same family and their descendants for over eighty years.
Originally acquired by the noted Australian artist John Rowell from the estate of Sir John Longstaff in 1942, the work is linked to the support Longstaff gave to both Ramsay and to Rowell. As early as 1896 Longstaff was appointed one of the judges for the National Gallery of Victoria Travelling Scholarship in which Ramsay was an exhibitor. Longstaff had won the first NGV Travelling Scholarship in 1887. He recognised Ramsay's talent and started to take an interest in his painting, frequenting his studio to encourage and advise him. Again in 1899 when the Travelling Scholarship was won by Max Meldrum, Longstaff rallied to Ramsay's aid, along with Baldwin Spencer, arranged a raffle of three of Ramsay's paintings in an Art Union which assisted Ramsay to sail for Europe in September 1900 arriving in Paris in January 1901 for further study.
As Norman MacGeorge had written: Longstaff it should be mentioned was even a friend and ardent admirer of Ramsay's work and Ramsay one of his own fans (if one must use that silly word) and it must have been pretty grim for him to have to acknowledge that Meldrum's was the better picture. 2.
In 1902 Ramsay had accepted Longstaff's offer to stay at his residence in St. John's Wood, 'as long as he liked' which could help him with any portrait commissions. Longstaff, with whom Ramsay was staying at the time, presented him with a black crayon sketch entitled ‘Sleeping man', inscribed 'To my dear friend Ramsay, J. Longstaff 1902'. 3.
In the unpublished short biography on John Rowell his grandson, Peter Ackland writes that during Rowell's years lecturing at the Melbourne Technical College, a number of artists including Arthur Streeton and John Longstaff befriended Rowell and began to show considerable interest in his work, Longstaff in particular becoming a very close friend and mentor and an enormous help to him in establishing his career. As an example, Longstaff when appointed adviser to the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum in 1924, two years later gifted a quality work by Rowell titled ‘The slip-rails' for the permanent collection. Following this gift the NGV Felton Bequest acquired in 1926 a work by Rowell for their collection. John Rowell had acquired seven works by Longstaff plus the Ramsay portrait from Longstaff's estate in 1942 following Grant of Probate and completion of a Schedule No.2 Pictures and Paintings of Sir John Campbell Longstaff of 146 art works valued at 40.6.1.6 pounds.
1. Patricia Fullerton, Hugh Ramsay, The Australian Club Collection, Melbourne
2. Norman MacGeorge Papers, University of Melbourne Archives
3. Patricia Fullerton, Hugh Ramsay His Life and Work p.103 (Presented to the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston by Lady Ramsay in 1961)
4. Peter Ackland, A Hidden Archive - The Life and Work of John and Eugenie Rowell, May 2024 p.5
By Peter Perry, former Director of Castlemaine Art Gallery