SHIRLOW, JOHN (1869-1936)

“The City – Melbourne From South Yarra” (1915)
Etching, ed. 2/50
cm
Signed lower right
*private collection, Melbourne
 
Shirlow was educated at various state schools and Scotch College, Melbourne, and went to work first at Haase Duffus and Company, printers, and then in 1889 with Dands & McDougall. He began attending evening classes at the national gallery in 1890 and continued there for five years. Towards the end of his course, influenced largely by the Rembrandt and Whistler prints at the Melbourne National Gallery, he began to practise etching. His difficulties were great for he had to make his own press and correct his own mistakes. His first plate was etched in 1895 and he continued his craft until the end of his life. Most of his work is pure etching, but he did a few aquatints and mezzotints. In 1920, with Albert Henry Fullwood, he co-founded the Australian Painter-Etchers' Society. In 1922, he was made a trustee of the public library, museums and national gallery of Victoria, and soon afterwards became drawing master at Scotch College, Melbourne. He is represented at the British Museum, the NGV, AGNSW, Art Gallery Of South & Western Australia, Bendigo, Geelong and Castlemaine. The finest collection is at the Mitchell Library, which has practically all of his important prints.