Helen Hambidge

Hambidge was born in 1857 in Bendigo, Victoria to William Benjamin Whitlock Hambidge and Leah Russell.^[1] She had five brothers and five sisters,^[1] and two of her sisters Alice and Millicent would also grow up to be artists.^[2] The family had returned to South Australia by 1860^[1] where her parents had been married^[3] and where her father was a carpenter and builder.^[4]

She studied art under John Hood of Glenelg and later from H.P. Gill at the South Australian School of Art.^[5] She first exhibited at a show in Geelong in 1879.^[6] She also exhibited photographs as well as paintings.^[7] Like many working artists of the period, Hambidge was engaged in portraiture.^[8][9] In 1893 she was elected an associate of the South Australian Society of Arts.^[10] Her and sisters contributed 22 works to the society's exhibition that year.^[11] It was remarked "the artistic temperament is shared by all the Misses Hambidge."^[12] Their brother Bert who worked for the Land and Survey department also loved to sketch.^[13]

Her work continued to be exhibited over the decade^[14][15][16] and was selected for the Australian Art Exhibition in London.^[17] Her painting Summer Night was presented to the Public Library Board.^[18] She won a fine art award in figure drawing for her piece My Australian Cousin, bested only by her sisters. The sisters became quite well known for painting miniatures.^[19][20] As working artists particularly Helen was recognised with several purchases from notable people in South Australia.^[21][22] Their work was described by The Advertiser as "the best of its kind."^[23]

In 1905 her portrait Lady Gwendoline was purchased by the National Art Gallery, now the Art Gallery of New South Wales.^[24] That year Helen and her sisters would establish their reputations outside of South Australia with showings in Sydney^[25] and Melbourne.^[26] They had a lifelong friendship with H.P. Gill, and during his time as Honorary Curator of the Art Gallery of South Australia works by all three of them were acquired.^[5] Their notability meant they were often commissioned for works as well^[27] and they also taught students.^[28] The continued exhibiting in Sydney was alongside other noted female artists of the period Edith Cusack, Gladys Owen, and Bernice Edwell.^[29]

It is hard to separate the work of Helen Hambidge from that of her sisters.^[28] Helen died in 1937.^[30] Her work continues to be represented in the collections of the Art Gallery of New South Wales^[31] and the Art Gallery of South Australia.^[32]