Rose Mead
Encyclopedia
Rose Mead was a British
born (Bury St Edmunds) portrait painter who exhibited at the Royal Academy
summer exhibition
and was a colleague of Augustus John
. Rose Mead was a prolific artists who worked in various fields – landscapes, street scenes, still lifes and flower studies alongside her portrait work, using both oil on canvas and watercolour on paper.
was born 4 December 1867 in Bury St Edmunds daughter of a plumber
, glazier
and painter. She was aged 20 before she had any formal artistic training when she attended the Lincoln School of Art. She left there to study at the Westminster School of Art
, London
in 1892, under the tutorship of Frederick Brown just prior to his appointment as Professor at the Slade School of Fine Art
. During this time she painted a self-portrait
in the act of cooking. A company that made similar cookers offered £500.00 (£38,961.00 in 2007) to add their name, an amount she refused because she was unwilling to "prostitute" her art. Mead's stay at Westminster was brief before having to return home to nurse her father. After his death Rose Mead studied under Auguste-Joseph Délécluse in Paris, where a pastel portrait was exhibited at the Paris Salon. This same portrait was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1896.
and My Mother were shown in the 1899 exhibition. Rose Mead nursed her mother until her death in 1919, whilst earning a living portrait painting, mainly commissioned by local dignitaries. In 1929 she visited Newlyn
in Cornwall
visiting the existing Newlyn School
of artists of that time. One figure study titled Painted in Dod Procter's
studio in Newlyn a known result of the visit. In c. 1933 she visited the South of France
, a watercolour of St Paul de Vence
a record of that time. The artist was known by locals to approach girls and young women if she was attracted by some characteristic, and would ask if, with their parents permission, they would be happy to pose for her. Whilst painting she counselled them not to get married, urging them to find fulfilment in a career, one sitter remembering that once the artist had discovered she had married – "She felt that I had quite changed and that it had a detrimental effect on my personality". The artist never achieved the promise shown at the start of her career, it is thought mainly because of the breaks caused by the death of her father and the need to care for her mother until she was aged 52. She was found dead at the bottom of her studio stairs in Crown Street, Bury St Edmunds at the end of March 1946 at the age of 78.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
born (Bury St Edmunds) portrait painter who exhibited at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
summer exhibition
Royal Academy summer exhibition
The Summer Exhibition is an open art exhibition held annually by the Royal Academy in Burlington House, Piccadilly in central London, England, during the summer months of June, July, and August...
and was a colleague of Augustus John
Augustus John
Augustus Edwin John OM, RA, was a Welsh painter, draughtsman, and etcher. For a short time around 1910, he was an important exponent of Post-Impressionism in the United Kingdom....
. Rose Mead was a prolific artists who worked in various fields – landscapes, street scenes, still lifes and flower studies alongside her portrait work, using both oil on canvas and watercolour on paper.
Early life
Emma Rose Mead as Rose Mead was christenedInfant baptism
Infant baptism is the practice of baptising infants or young children. In theological discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believer's baptism", or...
was born 4 December 1867 in Bury St Edmunds daughter of a plumber
Plumber
A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable water, sewage, and drainage in plumbing systems. The term dates from ancient times, and is related to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum." A person engaged in fixing metaphorical "leaks" may also be...
, glazier
Glazier
A Glazier is a construction professional who selects, cuts, installs, replaces, and removes residential, commercial, and artistic glass. Glaziers also install aluminum storefront frames and entrances, glass handrails and balustrades, shower enclosures, curtain wall framing and glass and mirror...
and painter. She was aged 20 before she had any formal artistic training when she attended the Lincoln School of Art. She left there to study at the Westminster School of Art
Westminster School of Art
The Westminster School of Art was an art school in Westminster, London. It was located at 18 Tufton Street, Deans Yard, Westminster, and was part of the old Architectural Museum.H. M. Bateman described it in 1903 as...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1892, under the tutorship of Frederick Brown just prior to his appointment as Professor at the Slade School of Fine Art
Slade School of Fine Art
The Slade School of Fine Art is a world-renownedart school in London, United Kingdom, and a department of University College London...
. During this time she painted a self-portrait
Self-portrait
A self-portrait is a representation of an artist, drawn, painted, photographed, or sculpted by the artist. Although self-portraits have been made by artists since the earliest times, it is not until the Early Renaissance in the mid 15th century that artists can be frequently identified depicting...
in the act of cooking. A company that made similar cookers offered £500.00 (£38,961.00 in 2007) to add their name, an amount she refused because she was unwilling to "prostitute" her art. Mead's stay at Westminster was brief before having to return home to nurse her father. After his death Rose Mead studied under Auguste-Joseph Délécluse in Paris, where a pastel portrait was exhibited at the Paris Salon. This same portrait was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1896.
Later life
Rose Mead returned to Bury St Edmunds in 1897 never, except for the rare holiday, to leave again. In the same year Cuisine en Boheme was shown at the Royal Academy summer exhibition. Two painting Friday Morning at St Mary'sSt. Mary's Church, Bury St. Edmunds
St Mary's Church is the civic church of Bury St Edmunds and claims to be the third largest parish church in England. It was part of the abbey complex and originally was one of three large churches in the town .-History:The present church is the second building to stand on the site, the first being...
and My Mother were shown in the 1899 exhibition. Rose Mead nursed her mother until her death in 1919, whilst earning a living portrait painting, mainly commissioned by local dignitaries. In 1929 she visited Newlyn
Newlyn
Newlyn is a town and fishing port in southwest Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Newlyn forms a conurbation with the neighbouring town of Penzance and is part of Penzance civil parish...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
visiting the existing Newlyn School
Newlyn School
The Newlyn School is a term used to describe an art colony of artists based in or near to Newlyn, a fishing village adjacent to Penzance, Cornwall, from the 1880s until the early 20th century. The establishment of the Newlyn School was reminiscent of the Barbizon School in France, where artists...
of artists of that time. One figure study titled Painted in Dod Procter's
Dod Procter
Dod Procter was a Cornish artist, and wife of artist Ernest Procter. Her painting, Morning, was bought for the nation by the Daily Mail in 1927.-Life and work:...
studio in Newlyn a known result of the visit. In c. 1933 she visited the South of France
Southern France
Southern France , colloquially known as le Midi is defined geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Gironde, Spain, the Mediterranean, and Italy...
, a watercolour of St Paul de Vence
Saint-Paul, Alpes-Maritimes
Saint-Paul or Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. One of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera, it is well-known for its modern and contemporary art museums and galleries such as Fondation Maeght which is located nearby.The property...
a record of that time. The artist was known by locals to approach girls and young women if she was attracted by some characteristic, and would ask if, with their parents permission, they would be happy to pose for her. Whilst painting she counselled them not to get married, urging them to find fulfilment in a career, one sitter remembering that once the artist had discovered she had married – "She felt that I had quite changed and that it had a detrimental effect on my personality". The artist never achieved the promise shown at the start of her career, it is thought mainly because of the breaks caused by the death of her father and the need to care for her mother until she was aged 52. She was found dead at the bottom of her studio stairs in Crown Street, Bury St Edmunds at the end of March 1946 at the age of 78.