William Boissevain Explained

William "Wim" Boissevain (23 July 1927 – 24 July 2023) was an Australian painter.

Biography

Of Dutch extraction, he was born Willem Geoffrey Boissevain in New York. His father, Gideon Walrave Boissevain, was in the Dutch diplomatic service.^[1]

Boissevain studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, London and the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris. He arrived in Australia in 1947, became naturalised in 1949,^[2] and established a studio at Glen Forrest in the Darling Range near Perth.^[3]

From 1951 to 1955 he taught drawing and French at Wesley College, Perth,^[4] later at Perth Technical College.

His portrait of the art dealer and benefactor Claude Hotchin was an entry in the 1957 Archibald Prize.^[5]

From 1964, he held exhibitions in many major galleries in Perth (commencing with the Skinner Gallery^[6]) and Sydney.^[7] His paintings are avidly sought by collectors. His portrait of Sir James Alexander Forrest is held in the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.

His first wife Rhoda Elsie Boissevain (1918–1999), was also a fine portrait painter and runner-up in the Rubinstein Prize for portraiture 1960. She also taught at Perth Technical College in the 1960s.^[8] The National Library of Australia holds her portrait of Katharine Susannah Prichard, completed ca. 1955.^[9] He died on 24 July 2023, hours after his 96th birthday.^[10]

Exhibitions

• 1950 - Newspaper House.^[11]

Awards

• Rubinstein Prize for portraiture 1956
• Claude Hotchin Art Prize, 1959
• Perth Prize for Drawing International, Perth, Western Australia, 1971
• He was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1978 for his services to the advancement of art.^[12]

Bibliography

• • • Addenbrooke, Maureen (illustrations by Wim Boissevain) Killing Cats and Karma Artlook Books Perth, W.A. 1983

Sources

McCulloch, Alan Encyclopedia of Australian Art Hutchinson of London 1968

Notes and References

1. Web site: William Boissevain in stock at Art Nomad . Artnomad.com.au . 19 August 2010.
2. Web site: William Boissevain - Wagner . 29 April 2022 .
3. News: Dutchman's Paintings . . 66 . 19,921 . Western Australia . 24 May 1950 . 26 January 2024 . 23 . National Library of Australia.
4. Web site: Masters and apprentices Art Exhibition 2009 . Wesley.wa.edu.au . 19 August 2010.
5. News: It seems to me. . . 6 February 1957 . 21 January 2013 . 24 . National Library of Australia.
6. Web site: William Boissevain, paintings for sale at Savill Galleries, 156 Hargrave Street, Paddington, Sydney. Tel: [phone] . Savill.com.au . 19 August 2010.
7. Web site: Perth Art Gallery – Linton & Kay . Lintonandkay.com.au . 19 August 2010.
8. Web site: Elizabeth Law . RRA Artist ::Elizabeth Law . Rra.net.au . 19 August 2010.
9. Web site: Portrait of Katharine Susannah Prichard. 1955.
10. News: MacNaughton . Tanya . World renowned Glen Forrest artist William 'Wim' Boissevain dies aged 96 . 11 October 2023 . The West Australian . 26 July 2023.
11. News: Dutchman's Paintings . . 66 . 19,921 . Western Australia . 24 May 1950 . 8 May 2024 . 23 . National Library of Australia.
12. https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1109497 "It's an Honour" website