Melville Haysom

Melville Haysom (1900-1967) was an Australian artist, sculptor, instructor and musician. He specialised in portrait, coastal and animal paintings[1] and alternated between impressionist and abstract styles. His work is held in galleries in Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane.

Early life

Melville Roy George Haysom was born in Melbourne, Victoria on August 17, 1900. His parents, William and Christina Haysom[2] encouraged his studies of art and music.[3][4] He studied art at the National Gallery School in Melbourne[5] in the style of the Heidelberg School but was also influenced by the abstract styles then coming out of Europe. He became President of the Victorian Art Society in 1923.

Haysom moved to Queensland in 1929. He wrote art critiques for newspapers,[6] worked as a musician in the orchestra of the Regent Theatre,[7] as well as pursuing his painting career. He received the Godfrey Rivers Bequest Award in 1935 for his portrait of his wife.[8][9]

Meville Haysom wins the Godfrey Rivers Trust art prize, 1935

He was commissioned to prepare a portrait of Dr James Mayne in 1936.[10][11] Murals by Haysom are on the walls of QUT Kelvin Grove[12] and Tattersalls Club in Brisbane.[13][14]

Military Service

Haysom volunteered in the Australian Army during World War II. Following this service he taught art at the Brisbane Central Technical College (now QUT),[15] providing instruction to many ex-servicemen who took advantage of the scholarships on offer after the war.[16]

StateLibQld 1 138112 Artists' party at the home of Melville and Yvonne Haysom, 1951

He and his wife encouraged the art community in Brisbane which regularly met at their home Merri Merri farm, in the foothills of Mt Coot-tha at Chapel Hill.[17] He was a Fellow of the Australian Artists Society and a Life Member of the Royal Queensland Art Society, in addition to being its President from 1952-1955.[18] Haysom was also involved in the Scouting movement of Brisbane.[19][20]

Personal life

Haysom married Yvonne Denis in Melbourne in 1925.[21] He died in Brisbane on December 25, 1967 and was survived by his wife, Yvonne and their son, Noel.[22] Selected papers relating to his career are held by the University of Queensland Fryer Library and the State Library of Queensland. An annual memorial scholarship was awarded in his name by the Queensland Art Gallery[23] until Yvonne’s death in 2016.

His art is found in the Queensland Art Gallery, National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of New South Wales and University of Queensland Darnell Collection, as well as held privately. Two retrospectives of his work have been held since his death, in 1971[24] and at the Ipswich City Council Art Gallery in 1987, curated by Stephen Rainbird.[25]

References
  1. "Philip Bacon Galleries :: Artists & Stockroom". www.philipbacongalleries.com.au. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  2. "Family Notices". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 1945-04-30. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  3. Haysom, Melville & De Berg, Hazel, 1913-1984. (Interviewer) (1963). Melville Haysom interviewed by Hazel de Berg in the Hazel de Berg collection.
  4. "Personal and Social". Advocate (Melbourne, Vic. : 1868 - 1954). 1915-10-16. p. 29. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  5. "A CHOICE ART COLLECTION". Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947). 1934-07-14. p. 11. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  6. "Legacy all can enjoy". Brisbane Telegraph (Qld. : 1948 - 1954). 1954-05-07. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  7. "A SOUTHERN LETTER". Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld. : 1907 - 1954). 1933-12-13. p. 6. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  8. "HOPES TO FOLLOW PORTRAITURE". Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947). 1935-07-08. p. 17. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  9. "QUEENSLAND ARTIST WINS". Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947). 1935-07-08. p. 11. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  10. Turner, Bernadette. The Portrait of James Mayne: A Short History [online]. Queensland Review, Vol. 15, No. 2, 2008: 81-87. Availability: <https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=609310514137429;res=IELLCC> ISSN: 1321-8166. [cited 29 Oct 20].
  11. "HAYSOM PORTRAIT OUTSTANDING". Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947). 1936-10-06. p. 17. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  12. "ARTIST'S WAR MEMORIAL". Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954). 1947-10-29. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  13. "Tattersall's Club Dining Hall". ArchitectureAU. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  14. "Four Mural Paintings In Tattersall's New Dining Hall". Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954). 1939-06-22. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  15. "£50 In Art Prizes". Brisbane Telegraph (Qld. : 1948 - 1954). 1949-02-12. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  16. "Two-man Art Show Has High Merit". Maryborough Chronicle (Qld. : 1947 - 1954). 1950-04-17. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  17. "PEOPLE and their INTEREST". Truth (Brisbane, Qld. : 1900 - 1954). 1949-11-06. p. 39. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  18. "GOVERNOR AT PARTY AT BARRACKS". Brisbane Telegraph (Qld. : 1948 - 1954). 1954-08-14. p. 6. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  19. "Brookfield Field Day". Truth (Brisbane, Qld. : 1900 - 1954). 1953-11-22. p. 27. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  20. "Recalls Work For Scouting". Brisbane Telegraph (Qld. : 1948 - 1954). 1954-02-05. p. 4. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  21. "Family Notices". Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939). 1925-02-05. p. 16. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  22. "Family Notices". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 1927-01-06. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  23. QAGOMA. "Melville Haysom & Vida Lahey Scholarship Opportunities". Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  24. (1971). A memorial exhibition of the painting of Melville Haysom : held at A.N.Z. Bank Building ... Brisbane from 2nd to 13th August, 1971. A.N.Z. Bank?,
  25. Haysom, Melville. & Rainbird, Stephen. & Ipswich City Council Art Gallery.  (1987).  Melville Haysom : a retrospective exhibition organized by the Ipswich City Council Art Gallery.  [Ipswich, Qld.] :  Ipswich City Council Art Gallery
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