SAYER, JAMES WHITLEY (1847-1914)

"A Forest Glade, Katoomba" (1885)
oil on canvas
60 x 90cm
signed lower right
*likely exhibited @ Royal Art Society
*private collection, Sydney
 
James Whitley Sayer Jr. is a forgotten, pioneering Australian Impressionist & first Treasurer of the Geelong Art Gallery. Rev. James Sayer Sr. migrated with his wife & six children from Cornwall to Dunolly, Victoria (between Ballarat & Geelong) in the early 1860s. After working as a pupil teacher in Geelong, James Jr. earned an apprenticeship at the London Chartered Bank. He was based in Dunolly (1864-69), then Ballarat (1869-74). At this time he began studying art, perhaps under his father who was a printer prior to his work in the church. He displayed a natural artistic talent, and exhibited three works (copies of master paintings) in the Melbourne Intercontinental Exhibition of 1866-7. In 1869, he exhibited five works at the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute Exhibition. In 1875 he received commendations for his Sydney Intercontinental Exhibition submission, & again for the Melbourne Intercontinental Exhibition of 1879-1880. He also achieved success designing art prizes for the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute & Sydney International Exhibition. He became a member of the Royal Art Society shortly after its' establishment in 1880, & became the Honorary Secretary. He curated their annual shows & exhibited his own works until 1888. As secretary, trustee of the AGNSW, he was intimately involved with re-building the collection following a fire in 1882. He was transferred to Geelong as manager of the London Chartered Bank, where he focused on opening a new permanent art gallery; the Geelong Art Gallery. As Treasurer, through his relentless efforts, the Geelong Art Gallery was opened in 1900. Sayer was the driving force behind establishing the gallery, & building the collection through astute acquisitions that remain highlights today!! In 2012, the Geelong Art Gallery held a major retrospective of Sayer's RARE work!!