Florence Rodway

Awarded for service to arts and cultural heritage

11 November 1881 – 23 January 1971

Entered on roll: 2023

"Success and recognition paved the way for women artists"

Florence Rodway was commissioned to paint portraits of eminent public figures (mostly male) and was a founding member of the Women Society of Painters in 1910.

Born in Hobart, Florence, studied at the Hobart Technical School from 1897 – 1901 and was awarded a four-year scholarship to study at London’s Royal Academy of Arts from 1902. Florence returned to Australia in 1906 to study at Julian Aston’s Sydney Art School.

Florence’s portrait studies received awards in the Society of Artists’ Exhibitions of 1909 and 1910. The Sydney Art Galley purchased two of her portrait studies in 1910.

Recognition of Florence’s skill as a portraitist provided opportunities. In 1918 the Trustees of the Sydney Art Gallery commissioned a posthumous portrait of General William Bridges – one of only a few commissions awarded to women in this era.

In 1921, the Australian War Museum commissioned Florence to paint a posthumous portrait of Brigadier General MacLaurin, who had died in action during World War One. She was the only woman to receive such a commission from the War Museum.

J F Archibald, the editor of The Bulletin and founder of the Archibald Prize, recommended Florence for several commissions.

The Trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales commissioned Florence to paint a posthumous portrait of Archibald. This portrait was featured in the Archie 100 exhibition – celebrating the 100th year of the Archibald Prize. Florence entered portraits of J F Archibald, artist Julian Ashton and Chief Justice Sir William Cullen into the inaugural Archibald Prize.

Florence’s work was included in overseas exhibitions such as the Society of Artists’ Exhibition of Australian Art in London (1923), the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley (1924) and Australian Artists’ Work at the Imperial Institute, London (1928). Florence also had paintings in the Women Artists of Australia exhibition in Sydney (1934) the Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors (1950-51) and exhibited 50 works in Melbourne’s Athenaeum Club (1914).

Florence returned to Hobart in the 1930s and established a home studio. There are 24 works by Florence in the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery which include works on paper, such as charcoal sketches, watercolours, and oils.

The Art Gallery of New South Wales collection also includes 13 Florence Rodway artworks.