It is an all too common trope, that women in the arts are neglected in their lifetime, forgotten when they die, only to have their work resurrected decades after their death. Clarice Becket is the “poster child” for this worn out story.
The daughter of a Bank Manager, you can imagine, looking at her at age 18, the expectations for a young woman of her social class.
She studied art with leading Australian artist Frederick McCubbin from 1914-16 and later with ‘Tonalist’ painter Max Meldrum. By 1926, she was creating landscapes unprecedented in Australian art for their “radical simplicity”, and from 1930, she experimented further with a broader colour palette and more challenging compositions.
In 1935, while painting the sea off Beaumaris during a winter storm, Beckett contracted pneumonia and died four days later, aged 48. (Wikipedia)
You can read and see more about her work in an earlier post of mine here.
I didn’t have much luck finding photos of Clarice to work from. This one, which I’m guessing is from the late 1920’s early 1930’s, at least shows her in her preferred occupation, painting at Beaumaris, where so much of her work was made.
leonieandrews 
I especially like the 1931 portrait. And you’ve introduced me to another artist I didn’t know and now I’ll be checking out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Claudia! Truly there are so many poorly documented female artists. Even those who had recognition in their own lifetimes were frequently ignored after their death. Not all though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember your eralier post about Clairice. What beautiful work and what a frustrating life Clarice must have had. I note that the doctor said she might have survived her final illness if she’d had a “greater will to live”! Yes, blame the paitent. How luck we are to have anti-biotics!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am really enjoying your portraits by the way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much. Even though these artists are familiar to me I am really getting a lot out of revisiting their lives and work. Not to mention the benefit to my own practice due to the daily routine.
LikeLike
Clearly it was all her problem! Hers is the story that really distresses me. I can’t begin to imagine the great works that were destroyed by the wilful neglect of some members of her family.
LikeLike