Jo Sweatman

Estelle Mary (Jo) Sweatman (1872-1956), was an Australian painter. She was a founding member of the Twenty Melbourne Painters Society.

Early life and training

Sweatman was born in South Yarra 1872. She took drawing classes at a suburban ladies' college, and was recommended by her teacher to join the National Gallery School, where she studied for two years under Frederick McCubbin.

She was initially involved with the Victorian Artists' Society but her support for Max Meldrum eventually led to her being ousted along with friend A.M.E. Bale. Building her house 'The Kipsy' next door to fellow artist Clara Southern, they both took an active role in developing the artistic community in Warrandyte, Victoria. She helped establish annual art exhibitions with the Warrandyte Women's Auxiliary Association, serving on a committee of resident artists as secretary.

Sweatman was a founding member of the group, Twenty Melbourne Painters Society, that was formed by students and followers of Australian Tonalist Max Meldrum. Sweatman was considered to be one of Australia's most famous painters of wattle.

In 1922 Sweatman was a finalist for the Archibald Prize for her Portrait Miss A.M.E. Bale. The same year A.M.E. Bale was a finalist with her portrait of Miss Jo Sweatman. Sweatman died in 1956. Victorian Artists' Society 18th annual exhibition, East Melbourne Galleries, October 1913 Group exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, July 1919 Australian Art Association annual exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, 1–15 October 1920 Group exhibition (Jo Sweatman, A.M.E. Bale, Bernice Edwell), Athenaeum Gallery, November 1923 Twenty Melbourne Painters Society, Queen's Hall, November 1924 Twenty Melbourne Painters Society, Athenaeum Gallery, 15–29 September 1925 Solo exhibition, Decoration Gallery, May 1926 (catalogue) Twenty Melbourne Painters Society 8th annual exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, 14–25 September 1926 Jo Sweatman & A.M.E. Bale, Athenaeum Gallery, 28 March - 9 April 1927 Twenty Melbourne Painters Society 10th annual exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, September 1928 Twenty Melbourne Painters Society 11th annual exhibition, 24 September - 5 October 1929 Solo exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, April 1929 Australian landscapes, Athenaeum Gallery, 9–20 May 1933 Solo exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, 30 April - 11 May 1935 (catalogue) Solo exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, May 1937 (catalogue) Solo exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, 18–29 May 1943 Solo exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, 22 May - 2 June 1945 Twenty Melbourne Painters Society, Athenaeum Gallery, 3–14 September 1946 Solo exhibition, Athenaeum Gallery, May 1947

Collections Hamilton Gallery, Castlemaine Art Museum, National Gallery of Victoria.