Born in Victoria in 1848, Rowan had no formal art training, but travelled extensively, studying and painting the birds and wildflowers of northern Australia, Thursday Island and New Guinea. In 1879-93 Ellis Rowan exhibited her work in international exhibitions in Australia, India, England, Europe and the United States of America, in America illustrating books on flora by Alice Lounsberry. In 1916-18 she twice visited Papua and New Guinea, illustraing flowers and 47 species of birds. On her return from New Guinea she held an exhibition of 1000 paintings in Sydney, the largest collection exhibited to that time in Australia, most of which were purchased by the Australian Government and are held at the National Library of Australia in Canberra.
Ellis Rowan is one of the most prolific of the artists listed in our database, with the number of works offered for sale by auction since 1969 of 976, of which 732 (75%) were sold. The highest price recorded for the artist is $90,000 for Chrysanthemums (c.1890) sold by Sotheby's in November 2011. This year 3 works have been offered for sale. Works by Ellis Rowan are held by the National Gallery of Victoria, Queensland Art Gallery and a further two major public national galleries (see list below).
Ellis Rowan is listed in the following standard biographical references:
Could the second and subsequent works by this artist sold after June 9, 2010 for over $1,000 be liable for the Artists' Resale Royalty? More info…
No, ineligible. The artist has been deceased for more than 70 years.
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