The Artists

Clara Southern

CLARA SOUTHERN
THE ARTIST’S HOME, c. 1909

CLARA SOUTHERN
Australia 1860-1940

THE ARTIST’S HOME, c. 1909
oil on canvas mounted on plywood 53.0 x 110.4 cm
Collection: Benalla Art Gallery Collection – Ledger Gift

Clara Southern captures in this work her small cottage ‘Blythe Bank’, which was situated on the Research-Warrandyte Road, North Warrandyte. Built on the side of a hill, with entrance via a ramp, the cottage consisted of one large square living/dining room, a small bedroom and a tiny kitchen area. There was an open fire, no electricity, an outdoor laundry and toilet, and a rough rocky garden of scattered bulbs and an orchard with a variety of fruit trees. Her neighbour, living at ‘Kipsy’ was fellow artist, ‘Jo’ Sweatman. Sadly, ‘Blythe Bank’ has since been destroyed by bushfire.

Left: Arthur Streeton - Above Us The Great Grave Sky, 1890
Collection: National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.