Julian Ashton Art School - History

In 1890 Julian Ashton opened his School in Beaumont Chambers, King St as The Sydney Art School. Celebrated painters who came from this period include Elioth Gruner, George Lambert, Thea Proctor, Adrian Feint, Syd Long, Howard Ashton, (Julian`s son) Dorrit Black and J.J.Hilder.

Henry Cornwallis Gibbons joined the staff in 1922, working alongside Julian till he passed away in 1942. Henry Cornwallis continued to run the School until 1960. During this period, famous Australian artists such as William Dobell, Eric Wilson, Jean Bellette, Douglas Dundas, Arthur Freeman, William Dadswell, John Passmore, Joshua Smith and Max Dupain attend the school. In 1933 the School moved to the Rocks where it remains today. Some of the artists attending the school in more recent decades include John Olsen, Michael Johnston, Brett Whiteley, Nigel Thomson and Salvatore Zofrea.

Howard Ashton's son, J. Richard Ashton and his wife Wenda ran the School from 1960, when among many gifted artists, Francis Giacco and Ian Chapman attended. In 1977 Phillip Ashton (Richard's son) became Principal, this being the period in which Haydn Wilson, Bill Leak and Paul Newton and other artists attended. In 1988 the School was incorporated and Paul Ashton Delprat, Julian`s great grandson, himself an ex student, took over it's running.

In 1989 the art school's antique casts, easels and studio furnishings were classified by The National Trust. The Julian Ashton Art School has a long established cultural importance to Australian fine, it produces an environment in which students are inspired to emulate the achievements of past students by being in the very atmosphere in which they worked.

For a full biography about Julian Ashton, the artist and teacher who started the Julian Ashton Art School see: Julian Ashton Artist.