Ellis Rowan: A Flower-Hunter in Queensland

This touring exhibition from the Queensland Museum presents 50 paintings by Ellis Rowan, one of Australia's most celebrated flower painters. Displaying the beauty of Queensland's native wildflowers these works also reflect the rich diversity of the native flora from the Border Ranges in the south to the northern Torres Strait Islands.

But it is not only the paintings which are remarkable. Ellis Rowan, born in 1848, was an adventurous, emancipated woman who turned the genteel Victorian pastime of flower painting into an internationally acclaimed and highly profitable career. First visiting Queensland in 1887, she trekked from her home base in Melbourne to the most remote and inhospitable parts of Australia and New Guinea in her pursuit of subjects to paint. A tiny, wasp-waisted woman of indomitable will she climbed mountains, braved crocodiles and undertook perilous river journeys – always dressed in the height of fashion.

In a career spanning 50 years she produced more than 3000 paintings before her death in 1922. Ellis Rowan also spent several years in New Zealand after her marriage in 1873 to Captain Frederic Charles Rowan of the New Zealand Armed Constabulary. Following the untimely death of her husband, she visited New Zealand in 1893–4 on a sentimental journey, which brought her to Christchurch. Here she was delighted to discover the work of Margaret Stoddart and wrote in her book, published in 1898, 'Even here everyone was shivering, but I forgot the weather amongst Miss Stoddart's beautiful flower-paintings in the Art Gallery. I had the pleasure of meeting her, and next morning went to see her whole collection. It was a new revelation to me to see such work hidden away, and I think she stands without rival the first and foremost of our flower-painters in Australia. Her grouping, colouring, form and harmony were perfect.'

The scheduling of this exhibition, just prior to the Gallery's big summer show featuring the works of Margaret Stoddart, makes Ellis Rowan: A Flower-Hunter in Queensland a very interesting comparison. The show will be accompanied by a book Ellis Rowan – A Flower-Hunter in Queensland published by the curator Judith McKay. She will also give a public lecture at the Gallery on Thursday 4 September, 5.30pm.

This exhibition was held at the Robert McDougall Art Gallery in the Botanic Gardens.