Jessie Alexandra Dick

Jessie Alexandra Dick
Self Portrait in the Studio
Born13 July 1896
Largs, Scotland
Died16 August 1976(1976-08-16) (aged 80)
Clarkston, Scotland
NationalityBritish
EducationGlasgow School of Art
Known forPainting and teaching

Jessie Alexandra Dick, known as J Alix Dick, (13 July 1896 – 16 August 1976) was a Scottish artist and teacher. She was known as a painter of portraits and still-life pieces in both oils and watercolours.

Biography

Dick was the youngest daughter in a family of eleven children. She was born in Largs where her father was the head gardener on the estate of Lord Kelvin.[1] She studied at the Glasgow School of Art from 1915 to 1919 and joined the teaching staff of the School in 1921.[2] Holding a variety of posts, but mainly teaching painting and drawing, she remained on the staff of the School until her retirement in 1959.[3][4] She was an active member of the Glasgow Society of Lady Artists and, in 1960, was elected an associate member of the Royal Scottish Academy.[2][5] She was also a regular exhibitor with the Royal Watercolour Society, with the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers and at the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts.[6] Dick died in 1976 after a fall at the home in Clarkston she shared with one of her sisters.[1] For many years a large portrait of her, Self Portrait in the Studio, hung in the Glasgow School of Art but was destroyed in 2014 when fire engulfed the building.[7] After her death, several fine watercolours by Dick were saved by a neighbour when about to be thrown away.[4] The McLean Museum and Art Gallery in Greenock holds examples of her work.[6]

Glasgow School of Art

From 1922 until her retirement in 1959, Alix Dick taught at the GSA in various roles:

  • 1922/23–1924/25: Assistant Professor (Drawing & Painting Dept) Landscape and figure composition, mural & decorative painting, portrait and costume model, painting antique and still life
  • 1925/26–1929/30: Lecturer (Drawing & Painting Dept) Drawing, painting, composition
  • 1930/31–1931/32: Drawing & Painting (School of Design) pictorial and commercial art
  • 1932/33: Drawing & Painting (Lower School, general course) drawing, painting, composition
  • 1933/34: Drawing & Painting (Lower School, general course) Still life painting, oil & watercolour
  • 1934/35–1937/38: Drawing & Painting, still life painting, oil & watercolour
  • 1938/39–1959/60: Drawing & Painting lecturer (Drawing & Painting Dept)[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Fiona McKay (9 April 2017). "The Girl in the Pink Dress: Can you help identify the beautiful young women in the painting". The Herald. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b Paul Harris & Julian Halsby (1990). The Dictionary of Scottish Painters 1600 to the Present. Canongate. ISBN 1-84195-150-1.
  3. ^ a b "Dick, Jessie Alexandra, (1896-1976)". gsaarchives.org. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  4. ^ a b Jude Burkhauser, ed. (1990). Glasgow Girls Women in Art and Design 1880-1920. Canongate. ISBN 184195151X.
  5. ^ Peter J.M. McEwan (1994). The Dictionary of Scottish Art and Architecture. Antique Collectors' Club. ISBN 1-85149-134-1.
  6. ^ a b David Buckman (2006). Artists in Britain Since 1945 Vol 1, A to L. Art Dictionaries Ltd. ISBN 0-953260-95-X.
  7. ^ Tim Cornwell (18 December 2018). "Things we lost in the fire: the tragedy at The Glasgow School of Art". Art UK. Retrieved 5 February 2019.