RICKARDS, JOCELYN (1924-2005)

“Between The Acts (Virginia Wolff)” (1949) (Film Costume Design)
mixed media
62 x 47cm
signed & dated lower right
*exhibited at Macquarie Galleries, October 1949
*special mention & image, The Sydney Morning Herald, 1949
*private collection, Sydney
 
Rickards is a celebrated Australian artist, Theatre & Film costume designer. Originally from Melbourne, she was a foundation member of 'The Charm School', or Merioola Group of modernist artists, who occupied a Victorian-era mansion in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. The collective included other prominent artists including William Dobell, Russell Drysdale, Jeffrey Smart, Jean Bellette, Donald Friend and Margaret Olley to name a few. Here she met famous costume designer, Loudon Sainthill who introduced her to costume illustration and design. Both Sainthill and Rickards travelled to Postwar London in 1949, where she springboarded from West End Theatre productions, to designing costumes for large Hollywood Films including 'From Russia With Love', 'Blow-Up' and was nominated for an Academy Award for 'Morgan' (1967). This beautiful mixed media was completed in her first year in London working with Sainthill on an unfinished film production of Virginia Wolff's final novel, 'Between The Acts'. It was sent by air from London to appear in a large exhibition at Macquarie Galleries of Australian artists abroad in Oct 1949, and is given special mention (with photograph) in the Sydney Morning Herald.