Frances Hodgkins

Frances Hodgkins (1867-1947) was a painter, chiefly of landscape and still life. She was the first New Zealand-born artist to have a painting hung ‘on the line’ at the Royal Academy in 1903, and is considered one of New Zealand’s most prestigious and influential painters, although she spent most of her working life in Europe.

Hodgkins left New Zealand in 1901, and spent the next few years travelling around Europe. The outbreak of World War 1 curtailed her travel arrangements, and she settled in St Ives for the next five years. This period was one of experimentation, and her style changed from her previous Impressionist work, became more studio-based because of war restrictions, and she also began to work in oils.

The friendship and support of Moffat Lindner was of great importance during this period. He helped to secure a Porthmeor studio for her, commissioned a painting and provided her with introductions and contacts. However probably of most value was his support and encouragement, when most other established artists in St Ives were less appreciative of her work.

She moved away from St Ives soon after the end of the war, and resumed her European travels. Her work became more abstract, and she joined the Seven and Five Society, working alongside younger artists including Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson and Henry Moore, and was considered a key figure in British Modernism.