Lot 6

The Estate of the Artist
Leonard Joel, Melbourne, Collection of the Cumbrae-Stewart Family, 19 August 2002, lot 247
Private collection, Melbourne

Janet Cumbrae-Stewart was a prominent Australian artist whose mastery of light, atmosphere and delicacy distinguished her work in the early 20th century. Born in Melbourne, she pursued formal training at the National Gallery Art School, where she studied under esteemed artists Bernard Hall and Fredrick McCubbin. This institution was a pivotal centre for artistic development in Australia, encouraging students to explore both traditional academic techniques and the emerging artistic trends of Europe. Under Hall and McCubbin's guidance, Cumbrae-Stewart built a strong foundation in drawing and painting, while the vibrant artists environment at the school exposed her to avant-garde ideas and played a crucial role in shaping her unique style.

Cumbrae-Stewart's time at the National Gallery Art School coincided with a broader transformation in Australian art, as artists sought to capture the distinctive qualities of the local landscape and light. While she drew from these prevailing trends, Cumbrae-Stewart developed a personal approach that set her apart. Her work is characterised by a nuanced understanding of light and shadow, often employing a soft, diffused technique that lends her pastel works and paintings a sense of tranquillity and introspection. This approach is evident in 'Gathering Wildflowers' c.1911, where she captures the delicate interplay of light and form to create an atmospheric scene. The painting's composition, with its blurred figures and subtle transitions of colour, embodies her poetic interpretation of the natural world. Cumbrae-Stewarts skilful manipulation of light creates and ethereal quality, inviting viewers to engage with the painting on an emotional level.
This work, held in her personal collection and only released from her Estate decades after her death, exemplifies the rarity of her oil paintings, as she primarily focused on portraiture and pastel works throughout her career.

The scarcity of her paintings, coupled with her preference for pastels and portraiture, adds to the rarity and appeal of 'Gathering Wildflowers'. This piece not only showcases Cumbrae-Stewart's technical prowess and artistic vision but also provides insight into the broader narrative of Australian art during a period of great change and development. Her work remains an important testament to the contributions of women artists in a predominantly male-dominated field and reflects the nuanced perspectives they brought to the Australian art scene.

Hannah Ryan
Art Specialist