George Lawrence (painter)

George Feather Lawrence (1901–1981) was born in Sydney, Australia and for many years was regarded as one of the foremost painters in the impressionist style. He studied under Julian Rossi Ashton at the famous Sydney Art School in the old Queen Victoria Building; and later in London and Paris.

Lawrence was a member of the Society of Artists, Sydney and is well represented in all National and most Provincial Galleries in Australia. His work has been acquired for other National Collections including Auckland and Dunedin, New Zealand; Kuala Lumpur, Zambia, United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Italy and United States of America. He has held one-man exhibitions in all Australian capitals.

Early Life and Education

George Feather Lawrence was raised in the Sydney suburb of Annandale. Born on the 12th June 1901, the fifth child of seven, to English parents from Gloucestershire and Yorkshire. Lawrence was schooled at South Annandale Public, then at neighbouring Petersham High School. After leaving school Lawrence was accepted into the art department of the printers John Sands & Co. as a lithographic apprentice. The apprenticeship would last almost seven years, with Lawrence gaining expertise with printing and the reproduction of art works. The young apprentice was required to attend Julian Ashton’s School. A turning point in Lawrence’s life, he was introduced to a new world of art and to other aspiring artists who motivated and influenced his career. Lawrence’s career was further accelerated with his move to the well respected commercial art firm of Smith & Julius. He remained there until 1926 moving to “the more lucrative post of commercial designer at Paramount Films Art Department at Surry Hills." Lawrence made his commercial career at Paramount and remained there until 1962; having decided to focus his energies on becoming a full-time artist.

Working and studying in Sydney, he eventually married, raised a family and launched his twin careers as both commercial artist, and as a landscape and urban scene painter. In this latter field Lawrence gained prominence, perhaps more so than for his landscapes although they too were well received. His depictions of industrial cities, their railways, their narrow streets and tenement houses, are painted with a sensitivity normally reserved for rural landscapes.

Artistic Influences

The earliest influences during Lawrence’s formative years as an art student were George Lambert and Max Meldrum. A later influence was the work of impressionist painter Elioth Gruner in subject and tone. In later years Roland Wakelin, who like Lawrence worked as a commercial artist out of necessity, inspired Lawrence to further his passion for painting and drawing. In his introductory words, Lloyd Rees argues for Lawrence to be aligned “in the direction of Expressionism, rather than that of Impressionism.” The latter is more commonly expressed as the style attributed to Lawrence by art critics of his time.

In 1939 Lawrence was visited at Paramount by his friend William Dobell. Feeling confined to his office, he complained of no suitable scenes to paint. Dobell pointed out “you have subjects all around you.” In the same year another event occurred to influence Lawrence's work; the Melbourne Heralds' Exhibition of Modern Painting. The painter who had the greatest appeal to Lawrence was the French artist Maurice Utrillo. His streetscapes of Montmartre would influence Lawrence for years to come.

Awards

• Wynne Prize for Landscape, Sydney 1949
• Crouch Prize, Ballarat 1949
• Bendigo Art Prize in 1950