Richard Rivers

Background

Richard Godfrey Rivers was born in 1858 in Plymouth, England, the son of Richard Rivers and Bertha (née Harris).

Education

Rivers studied at the Slade School of Art (1877-1883) in London under Professor Alphonse Legros.

Career

Rivers emigrated to Australia in 1889 and taught at Katoomba College (along with Philosophy May). Rivers was second art master at Brisbane Central Technical College from 1890 to 1915. And was president of the Queensland Art Society from 1892–1901 and 1904-1908.

He was also honorary curator of the Queensland National Art Gallery from 1895 to 1914.

On 25 September 1901, Richard Godfrey Rivers married Selina Jane (née Bell) at Street John"s Cathedral, Brisbane. They had a son (also named Richard Godfrey) in 1907 but he died in 1912 and was buried in Toowong Cemetery.

In 1903, Rivers painted a picture Under the Jacaranda, which has been described as "quintessentially Brisbane". The painting is part of the collection of the Queensland Art Gallery.

Rivers established a local reputation as a portrait painter, and portraits by him of Sir Samuel Griffith and others hang in the supreme court at Brisbane.

He also taught at the Brisbane High School for Girls and at Brisbane Girls Grammar School. He moved to Hobart, Tasmania in 1915 and tried to raise interest in the Hobart gallery. Rivers died of typhoid fever in London, England on 4 February 1925.

He was cremated in London and his ashes buried in his son"s grave in Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane.

A memorial service was held for him in Street John"s Cathedral. She was cremated there and her ashes were also buried in their son"s grave in Toowong Cemetery.

Examples of Rivers" outdoor work are in the state galleries at Sydney and Brisbane. On alternating years, the trust would purchase an overseas art work or provide a prize for local artists.

Achievements

• He won a landscape painting prize there in 1883 and exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1884.