GILL, Harry Pelling (1855-1916)

artist

was born at Brighton, England, in 1855. He studied at the Brighton School of Art and at South Kensington where he won a scholarship. In 1882 he was appointed master of the school of design at Adelaide and held this position for 27 years. He was appointed honorary curator of the art gallery of South Australia, and in 1899 visited Europe where, with the assistance of a committee, he spent £10,000 on works of art. It was generally agreed that very good judgment had been shown in making these purchases. Gill was for some time president of the South Australian Society of Arts, and in 1909 was appointed principal and examiner of the Adelaide School of Art. He resigned this position on 1 July 1915 on account of ill health, and died on 25 May 1916 while on a voyage to England. Gill had a good reputation as a teacher and lecturer. An oil and three of his water-colours are in the art gallery at Adelaide. He married and was survived by his wife and two sons.

The Advertiser and The Register, Adelaide 31 May 1916; W. Moore, The Story of Australian Art; private information.