Clara Southern Paintings

Clara Southern was an Australian artist born on October 3, 1861, in Kyneton, Victoria. She was a significant figure in the Australian art scene, particularly known for her contributions to the Heidelberg School, a movement that is often considered Australia's first significant Western art movement, known for its plein air painting and impressionist influences.

Southern studied at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School in Melbourne from 1883 to 1888. She was under the tutelage of renowned artists such as Frederick McCubbin and George Folingsby. During her time at the school, she honed her skills in painting and became well-versed in the techniques that would later characterize her work.

After her education, Southern became an active member of the Melbourne art community and was one of the few women associated with the Heidelberg School. Her works often depicted rural Australian landscapes and domestic scenes. She was particularly drawn to the countryside around the artist's colony of Heidelberg and later the Warrandyte area, where she moved in 1905. Her painting 'An Old Bee Farm' is one of her most celebrated works and reflects her fascination with the natural environment and rural life.

Southern exhibited her works with the Victorian Artists' Society and was involved with the Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors. Despite the challenges faced by women artists at the time in gaining recognition, she managed to carve out a career for herself and maintain a presence in the Australian art world.

Clara Southern continued to paint and contribute to the art community until her death on December 15, 1940, in Warrandyte, Victoria. Her legacy lives on through her paintings, which capture the essence of the Australian landscape and the spirit of the Heidelberg School. Southern's work is held in various Australian public collections, including the National Gallery of Victoria and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.