Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo Miss Frances D Ellis

This portrait by Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo of artist Frances Dolina Ellis (1900–1971) is now in the collection of the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua, Wanganui, New Zealand with the title Portrait of Miss Frances D Ellis, artist.

Ellis was born in Papaioea (Palmerston North), Aotearoa New Zealand in 1900 and in her youth showed both musical and artistic talent. She travelled to London in 1923, studying at the Central School of Arts and Crafts under Bernard Meninsky, who instilled in her a lifelong interest in colour. After a brief sojourn in Australia, Ellis taught drawing at the technical and high schools in Papaioea, where she studied under Harry Linley Richardson. In 1934, she returned to Australia, enrolling in the classes of Dattilo-Rubbo. By 1941 she had been appointed principal of his art school, where she remained until 1949.

Ellis exhibited a portrait of Dattilo-Rubbo in the 1942 Archibald competition.