A woman on Wednesday

Last week I spoke about how Rose Mead had influenced Sybil Andrews; and she, is  indeed worth a mention this week before going on with Sybil when I return from my holiday. Rose Mead (1867-1947) was a born in Bury St Edmunds.  Although, she was primarily a portrait painter exhibiting often in the Royal Academy Summer Show; she also work in other fields such as landscapes, still lifes and flower studies using oil on canvas and watercolour on paper. I understand that she also was a costume designer but I have no reference to this.  

Rose Mead did not begin any formal artistic lessons until she was 20, when she attended Lincoln School of Art. In 1892 she left there to study at the Westminster School of Art Her teacher was Frederick Brown; soon after this be became a Professor at the Slade School of Fine art.  

During this time she painted a self portrait as she was cooking at a stove.  A company who made similar cookers offered her a considerable sum to add their name to the work of art she refused not wishing she explained ‘ to prostitute’ her art.

Sadly her time at Westminster was cut short as her father was unwell; so she returned to Bury St Edmunds to nurse him until he died.

After this she studied under Auguste-Joseph Delecluse in Paris. In 1897 Rose Mead returned to Bury St Edmunds and did not leave again except for a rare holiday.  She nursed her mother until her death in 1919.  To make a living she painted pictures commissioned by local dignitaries.  She also took every opportunity to persuade local girls sitters/posers not to get married; instead urged them to find a career.

It is said that Rose Mead didn’t achieve the promise shown at the start of her career; because  she had taken extended career breaks when her parents had needed care.  She didn’t resume her practice until she was 52; and she was found dead at the bottom of her stairs aged 78.