Janie Wilkinson Whyte
Janie Wilkinson Whyte (1869–1953) was an Australian impressionist artist and part of the first wave of feminist artists in Melbourne.
Biography

Whyte was a painter, etcher, and wood-carver who studied at the National Gallery School from 1890–1895[1] and together with Dora Wilson and Jessie Traill took lessons in etching from John Mather.[2] Their etchings were published in The Lone Hand in 1907 as some of the earliest works in this field made by women.[2] Whyte was an impressionist artist who painted portraits,[3] figure studies, and landscapes,[4] and was one of the first Melbourne women to paint dockyard scenes.[1] She also painted interiors and flowers, and worked with oils, watercolours, and pastels.[4] Her cityscapes contained charming observations of Melbourne life.[1] Whyte taught at the Sydenham College[5] and Ipswich Girls Grammar School.[6] Whyte showed with the Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors in the 1920s.[7]
As part of a first wave of feminist artists in Melbourne,[1] Whyte presented a paper at women's cultural group the Austral Salon along with Violet Teague in August 1907.[8] While a copy of her lecture was not archived it is said she discussed the struggle for Australian women artists to get recognition.[8]
Whyte died on 7 April 1953 at her home in Canterbury, Victoria,[9] and was cremated.[10] She was survived by a sister and numerous nieces and nephews.
References
- ^ a b c d Design and Art Australia Online. "(Short bio - Whyte, Janie Wilkinson (1869-1953))". trove.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ a b Lee, Mary Alice, "Wilson, Dora Lynnell (1883–1946)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 20 August 2020
- ^ "VICTORIAN ARTISTS' SPRING EXHIBITION". Punch. 13 September 1917. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ a b Angeloro, David James (2019). "An Australian Woman's Impression and Its Influences" (PDF). Davidson Auctions.
- ^ "A Beautiful Picture Gallery". Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter. 11 October 1906. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "SOCIAL GOSSIP: Personalities". Queenslander. 10 December 1910. p. 15. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "Art Notes". The Age. 23 August 1923. p. 12. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ a b Peers, Juliette (June 2011). "Women artists as drivers of early art historical activities and alternative art historical narratives in Australia" (PDF). Journal of Art Historiography. 4: 1–18.
- ^ "Family Notices". Age. 9 April 1953. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "Family Notices". Herald. 8 April 1953. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
External links
- Janie Wilkinson Whyte Australian art and artists file, State Library Victoria
- Janie Wilkinson Whyte : work old and new (Athenaeum, Sept 17–28, 1935) digitised item, State Library Victoria