[Portrait of Grace M. Wilson, ca 1919] / drawn by George Washington Lambert

DG P2/49

fonds

ca 1919

Graphic Materials, Drawings

457961

Copy print : DG P2/49
Available on open access in the Mitchell Library Reading Room

Drawings - 1 pencil drawing - 38.4 x 27.9 cm. (visible image on folded sheet); 38.4 x 56 cm. (full sheet)

Born: 25 June 1879 South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Died: 12 January 1957 Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
Wilson served as a nurse in both world wars. In the First World War she was principal matron of the 3rd Australian General Hospital (later to become the 14th Australian General Hospital) in England, Lemnos, Abbassia and France. She was awarded the Royal Red Cross in 1916 for her work in the Australian Army Nursing Service and was appointed as Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919 for her work in France. In the Second World War Wilson was matron-in-chief of the nursing service with the Australian Imperial Forces. She served in the Middle East until ill health forced her to return to Australia in August 1941.
George Washington Lambert (1873-1930), artist, was born on 13 September 1873 at St Petersburg. The family migrated, reaching Sydney on 20 January 1887. In December 1917 he was appointed an official war artist, A.I.F., with the honorary rank of lieutenant. After several years in England and Europe, Lambert returned to Australia in 1921, and died on 29 May 1930 at Cobbity, near Camden. He was buried in the Anglican section of South Head cemetery. George Lambert was a patient at the 14th Australian General Hospital at Abbassia from April to June 1919. He painted several images while there, including, 'Courtyard, 14th Australian General Hospital, Abbassia' and, 'A Light Horse officer at the 14th Australian General Hospital, Abbassia'. Both are dated 1919. Lambert only made a few images of women during the war, and a similar pencil sketch is of 'Sister Tidy' on the Australian War Memorial website.

Date of work is based on Lambert's time at Abbassia. Gladys Owen and Basil Burdett were Hon. Secretaries for the Lambert Memorial Fund Exhibition Committee. The Exhibition was held in the Anthony Horderns' Fine Art Gallery, Sept. 25th until Oct. 15th 1930. Further reference: ML MSS 97/11 pp 201-211, contains listing of G.W. Lambert's works exhibited and offered for sale from his estate. ML Q759.29/L, 'Lambert Memorial Exhibition, Anthony Horderns' Fine Art Gallery, September 25th, until October 15th, 1930, catalogue'. 'George W. Lambert retrospective : heroes & icons' / Anne Gray, ML Q759.994/682. 'The Official history of the Australian Army Medical Services in the war of 1914-18', ML 940.93/O, v.3, p.527. Australian War Memorial website. Australian Dictionary of Biography Online edition.

Unsigned; undated; untitled.
On back of the drawing there is a stamp signed by Gladys Owen and Basil Binder reading 'Certified by the Lambert Memorial Fund as the work of G.W. Lambert, A.R.A. 1930' - see Notes