Harry Pelling Gill

Who was Harry Pelling Gill?

Harry Pelling Gill was an English-born Australian art curator, teacher and painter.

Gill was born at Brighton, Sussex, England, the son of Alfred Gill and his wife Frances Elizabeth, née Pelling. Gill studied at the Brighton School of Art, Hove and Sussex Grammar Schools and at South Kensington where he won a scholarship. In 1882 Gill was appointed master of the School of Design at Adelaide and held this position for 27 years. He published The Straight and Crooked Paths of Studentship in 1894. He was appointed honorary curator of the art gallery of South Australia, and in 1899 visited Europe where, with the assistance of a committee, he spent £10,000 on works of art. He was also responsible for purchasing works of young Australian artists such as Tom Roberts, Hans Heysen and Frederick McCubbin. It was generally agreed that very good judgment had been shown in making these purchases. Gill was for some time president of the South Australian Society of Arts, and in 1909 was appointed principal and examiner of the South Australian School of Arts and Crafts. Gill resigned this position on 1 July 1915 on account of ill health, and while on a voyage to England, for reasons of health, died on 25 May 1916 . Gill had a good reputation as a teacher and lecturer. Gill was an Associate of the Royal College of Art, London, and a Freemason. An oil and three of his water-colours are in the Art Gallery of South Australia. He was survived by his wife and two sons.