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Ruth Graham Robertson

Ruth Graham Robertson

Female 1923 - 2010  (87 years)

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  • Name Ruth Graham Robertson 
    Born 1923  Lithgow, NSW, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Residence 1954  Wollstonecraft, NSW, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    16 Milner Cresent 
    Residence 1980  Wollstonecraft, NSW, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    3d / 74 Shirley Street 
    Residence 1989  Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Attended family reunion Tamworth 1989 
    Died 20 Apr 2010  Canberra, ACT, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • THE National Gallery of Australia has acquired Hans Heysen's Morning light (1913), through the bequest of Ruth Graham Robertson.
      Ms Robertson's bequest was made to assist the development of the national art collection, specifically Australian art, through acquisitions of works by important late 19th and early 20th century Australian artists such as Hans Heysen, Arthur Streeton, Sydney Long and James W.R Linton.

      The other acquisitions from the bequest to date include Hans Heysen's "Arkaba country" (1929 -34) and "A winter's day on the Swan" (c. 1910) oil painting by WA artist James W.R Linton.

      "We are indebted to Ms Robertson for the wonderful legacy of almost $3 million that she has left the National Gallery of Australia," director Ron Radford said.

      "Her bequest has already enabled us to make significant acquisitions such as Heysen's ?Morning light' and will continue to do so in the future.

      "It is extraordinary that the National Gallery of Australia held no major iconic gum tree oil painting by Heysen from the Federation period prior to the acquisition of this work.

      "Moreover, it is hard to believe given the popularity and familiarity of Heysen's work, that Heysen in fact painted only a handful of major oils (seven in all) on the subject of the gum during the Federation period (1900-1914)."

      Ruth Graham Robertson, born at Lithgow NSW in 1923, demonstrated a love of the arts in their many forms, from a very early age. This love was fostered by her maternal grandfather Robert Dennis, who was among the last of the Lithographic artists and illuminators trained at the Technical College in Ultimo.

      "She never lost her appreciation of the works of Australian landscape artists, such as Hans Heysen, and would often remark on the beauty of a tree and how it would look painted," her nephew Rob Meller said,

      "She particularly wanted to honour the memory and legacy of her parents and her maternal grandparents in her will and for this reason chose to leave a bequest to the Gallery that would enable important Australian paintings such as these works to be acquired by the Gallery."
    Person ID I406  Kelly / Grayer
    Last Modified 25 Aug 2016 

    Father Edwin Clive Robertson,   b. 9 Jun 1897, Armidale, NSW, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Oct 1981, Concord, NSW, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 84 years) 
    Mother Leila Jeanne Dennis,   b. 25 Jul 1896,   d. 27 Aug 1970, Wollstonecraft, NSW, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years) 
    Married 1921  Balmain, NSW, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Leila and Edwin had 2 daughters and a son.
    Photos
    Robertson wedding photo
    Robertson wedding photo
    Robertsons Lithgow house
    Robertsons Lithgow house
    44 Hassans Wall Road, Lithgow, NSW
    Family ID F154  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Elizabeth Dennis (nee Taylor), Leila Robertson (nee Dennis) and Ruth Robertson 1923
    Elizabeth Dennis (nee Taylor), Leila Robertson (nee Dennis) and Ruth Robertson 1923
    Ada Windle
    Ada Windle
    Original in Mitchell Library titled "Ada or Mary Windle". This is a very hurried photo I took when I asked for viewing of the items donated by Ruth Robertson.
    Mary Ann Windle
    Mary Ann Windle
    Original in Mitchell Library titled "Ada or Mary Windle". Donated to the Mitchell Library by Ruth Robertson.

    Histories
    Note from Elizabeth Dennis transcribed by Ruth Robertson
    Note from Elizabeth Dennis transcribed by Ruth Robertson