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Anne Von Bertouch

{{Short description|Australian art dealer, author, environmentalist and art gallery director}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Anne Von Bertouch

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|OAM}}

| image = Anne Von Bertouch.tif

| alt =

| caption = Anne Von Bertouch

| birth_name = Anne Catherine Whittle

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1915|6|29}}

| birth_place = Eastwood, New South Wales, Australia

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2015|3|31|1931|1|11}}

| death_place = Newcastle, New South Wales

| nationality = Australian

| occupation = Art gallery director

| known_for = Director of the Von Bertouch Galleries (1963–2002)

| education = Sydney Girls High School, Armidale Teachers College

| alma_mater = University of Newcastle, Australia and University of New England, Australia

| spouse = {{marriage|Roger Von Bertouch|1939|1969|end=separated}}

| children =

}}

Anne Von Bertouch, {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|OAM}} (29 June 1915 – 31 March 2003) was an Australian art dealer, author, environmentalist and director of the Von Bertouch Galleries in Newcastle, New South Wales, believed to be the first commercial gallery outside a capital city in Australia.{{cite news | url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-04/famous-newcastle-gallery-sold-for-the-fourth-time/6594954?WT.ac=localnews_newcastle|title= Famous Newcastle gallery sold for the fourth time|newspaper= ABC News|date= 3 July 2015|publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation 4 July 2015 | access-date= 4 July 2015}}

Biography

Born Anne Catherine, to parents Jean (née Duff) and George Whittle on 29 June 1915 in Eastwood, New South Wales,Obituaries Australia | Retrieved 18 October 2018 she was educated at Sydney Girls High School and Armidale Teachers College. After teacher training her first posting was at Adamstown Infants School in the 1930s. She married Roger Von Bertouch in 1939. In 1941 she was the organiser of a National Fitness Camp for girls at Broken Bay, New South Wales.{{Cite news |last=Dennis |first=Charlotte |date=1941-06-02 |title=Of Interest To Women |pages=6 |work=Launceston Examiner |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52419250 |access-date=2022-05-03}}

She and Roger moved to Tasmania, where they taught and she studied at Hobart Technical College. In 1942 she performed modern interpretive dance at a Town Hall concert in Hobart organised by the Australian Broadcasting Commission Patriotic Committee as a fundraiser on Allies' Appeal Day.{{Cite news |date=1942-08-03 |title=Enjoyable Concert : Allies Appeal Aided |pages=4 |work=The Mercury |publication-place=Hobart |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25910307 |access-date=2022-05-03}}{{Cite news |date=1943-07-19 |title=ABC Artists Aid Allies' Day Appeal |pages=4 |work=The Mercury |publication-place=Hobart |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25986867 |access-date=2022-05-03}} She danced also in Hobart's Opera And Ballet Festival for International Week in 1945.{{Cite news |date=1945-10-11 |title=Opera And Ballet Festival For International Week |pages=7 |work=Mercury |publication-place=Hobart |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26146469 |access-date=2022-05-03}}{{Cite news |date=1945-10-13 |title=Opera And Ballet Festival |pages=5 |work=Mercury |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26136064 |access-date=2022-05-03}}

Intending to develop land and to pursue their artistic interests, they moved to Mungo Brush in the Myall Lakes, New South Wales, in 1951{{cite web |url= http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/01/1051382045354.html|title=Arts supporter one of Newcastle's favourite daughters|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |date=2 May 2003 |access-date=4 July 2015}}{{Cite news |date=1979-12-01 |title=The Snake Bites of Mungo Brush |pages=6 |work=Nota |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article255236428 |access-date=2022-05-03}} or 1954, living a subsistence existence from prawn fishing and trading their home-grown produce,{{Cite news |date=1997-08-21 |title=Tamboy immortalised |work=Nota |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article258477175 |access-date=2022-05-03}} and were appointed Honorary Rangers there in 1955 under the Wild Flowers and Native Plants Protection Act.{{Cite news |date=1955-01-07 |title=Wild Flowers and Native Plants Protection Act, 1927–1945. |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article220311063 |access-date=2022-05-03}} Anne's 1959 semi-autobiographical documentary novel February Dark gives an account of their time there.{{Cite news |date=1983-07-01 |title=February Dark |pages=3 |work=Nota |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article255035234 |access-date=2022-05-03}}{{Cite news |date=1997-08-21 |title=Tamboy immortalised |pages=12 |work=Nota |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article258477175 |access-date=2022-05-03}} Finding their block unviable, they moved to Newcastle where they renovated a terrace house. An active environmentalist, in the 1970s she famously chained herself to a tree to stop the widening of King Street, Newcastle, through Birdwood Park.{{Cite news |date=30 September 2002 |title=Lady of Arts honoured |work=The Newcastle Herald}}

In 1987 von Bertouch joined the 1988 Australian Bicentennial First Fleet reenactment, sailing on the Soren Larsen from Portsmouth in May 1987 and arriving at Port Jackson on Australia Day.{{Cite web |title=Winner of the 1987 Newton-John Award, Mrs Anne Von Bertouch, the University of Newcastle, Australia – 1988 |url=https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46551 |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Living Histories}}

Von Bertouch Galleries

File:Von Bertouch Galleries.jpg

Anne and Roger von Bertouch opened the von Bertouch Galleries in their home at 50 Laman Street in Newcastle on 9 February 1963{{Cite book|title=The Life and Work of Anne Von Bertouch|last=Carr|first=Ashley S.|publisher=University of Newcastle|year=2006|location=Newcastle, NSW|pages=59}}{{Cite book |last1=Von Bertouch |first1=Anne |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/220744993 |title=What was it before it was a gallery? |last2=Von Bertouch Galleries |date=1990 |publisher=Hunniford's Lane Press |isbn=978-0-9592824-2-9 |location=Newcastle, N.S.W. |language=en |oclc=220744993}} which, as noted by The Bulletin magazine, was close to William Dobell's birthplace and the Newcastle Art Gallery.{{Cite journal |date=2 February 1963 |title=National Note Book: For Art's Sake |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-684860323 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=85 |issue=4329 |pages=4}} An annual Collectors' Choice exhibition with a price maximum of 15 guineas (a value of A$500 in 2022) was established.

In 1969, not long after Anne had been injured and suffered a coma in a serious car accident near Morisset{{Cite news |last=Bevan |first=Scott |date=16 February 2019 |title=Former von Bertouch Galleries building restored and reshaped into a new landmark |work=The Newcastle Herald |url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/5897980/look-through-the-restoration-of-cooks-hills-historic-home-of-art/}}{{Cite news |last=Croxton |first=Sally |date=13 December 1999 |title=Personal mission of mercy |pages=13 |work=Newcastle Herald}} the couple separated.{{Cite news |last=Scanlon |first=Mike |date=23 June 2007 |title=Queen of Arts |work=The Newcastle Herald}} She acquired near-derelict Hunniford Terrace, a row of four narrow 1877{{Cite news |last=GR |date=1 February 2010 |title=$1.6m price for former gallery |work=The Newcastle Herald}} houses, opposite hers, on three titles surrounding 61 Laman St.{{Cite news |last=Watson |first=Alysson |date=2 June 2007 |title=Famous gallery may fetch over $1million |work=The Newcastle Herald}} They were threatened with demolition, and she combined and converted them, over five years and with the help of friends, to house the gallery,{{Cite web |title=Winner of the 1987 Newton-John Award, Mrs Anne Von Bertouch, the University of Newcastle, Australia – 1988 |url=https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46551 |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Living Histories}} which opened in 1974, after the couple had dissolved their partnership in the gallery in 1973.{{Cite news |date=1973-05-25 |title=Private Advertisements |pages=1917 |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article220179514 |access-date=2022-05-03}}{{Cite news |date=1973-06-30 |title=Index page |pages=iii |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article220180925 |access-date=2022-05-03}} Gael Davies became Anne's gallery manager in 1975.

Von Bertouch Galleries showed contemporary work by nationally prominent artists,{{Cite book |last1=McCulloch |first1=Alan |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/261965989 |title=McCulloch's encyclopedia of Australian art |last2=McCulloch |first2=Susan |last3=McCulloch Childs |first3=Emily |date=2009 |publisher=McCulloch & McCulloch ; Thames & Hudson [distributor |isbn=978-0-522-85317-9 |location=Carlton, Vic.; London |language=en |oclc=261965989}} as well as artists associated with the Hunter Region of New South Wales, including still-life painter Margaret Olley (1923–2011), landscapist Shay Docking (1928–1998), mid-century modernist painter and textile designer Mary Beeston (b. 1917), naïve artist Virginia Geyl (b. Holland 1917– d.1999) and the surrealist/religious painter Rona Scott, who created a mural for the film Tommy when it came to Australia. The Collector's Choice group exhibition, established in 1969 at the suggestion of Tom Gleghorn, and which opened the renovated space, became an annual fixture important as part of Newcastle's art scene, and spawned street parties.

The Bulletin in 1974 described Von Bertouch Galleries as "one of the most famous in Australia... It's [sic] director Anne Von Bertouch has made a great contribution to the life of [Newcastle] during the 11 years of the gallery's existence," and quoted her sentiments about selling art;

"I think the gallery has integrity. That is what I have worked hardest to achieve. I have never encouraged the buyer who is only interested in investment. In fact I won't sell to them. I tell them to go and buy real estate. I don't want them to have pictures if they aren't going to appreciate them. It's an anti-art thing...I have never had contracts or ties with any of the artists. Sometimes I've helped people but that is just natural. Artists must create for the sake of creating. They mustn't attempt to please. That can destroy the living quality of the painting. It will always have its own intrinsic value. Commercial gain is really incidental."{{Cite journal |last1=Hersey |first1=April |last2=Lamotte |first2=Craig |last3=McPhedran |first3=Don |date=21 September 1974 |title=32-Page Special Lift-Out Survey : Art In Australia : Other Centres : There's more to it than money |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1340003058 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=96 |pages=48, 50}}
The same 1974 issue of The Bulletin listed selling prices in A$ of a number of exhibitors; Charles Blackman $2400 (equivalent to more than $20,000 in 2022); David Boyd $1150; Donald Friend $525; Irvine Homer $300; Pro Hart $950; Reinis Zusters $960; George Lawrence $650; Lloyd Rees $6000; Louis James $200; Ray Crooke $4500; Jamie Boyd $330; Keith Looby $75–$2400; Rona Scott $50–$7000; John Winch $75–$1200; Margaret Olley $200–$950; Virginia Geyl $50–$280; Lillian Sutherland $85–$450; Rae Richards $175–$350; while at its annual Collectors' Choice works were $75 and under (equivalent to $650 in 2022).

Von Bertouch was considered a mentor and fair dealer by her artists; David Boyd remarked that was "the most highly principled person in the gallery world. One could have complete trust in her without having to worry. She was loved very much by all."{{Cite news |last=Hennessy |first=Carly |date=28 April 2003 |title=Life her canvas |pages=3 |work=Newcastle Herald}} David Thomas, a previous director (1965–75) of the Newcastle Region Art Gallery remembered her as "tough lady"; "By tough I mean she was of strong character, dedicated to making sure artists were well represented and improving the city's cultural life"{{Cite news |last=Scanlon |first=Mike |date=1 June 2019 |title=Art at heart of city's landscape |work=Newcastle Herald}}

On Saturday 9 February 2002, before its closure, Von Bertouch held a party to celebrate the Galleries' 39 years.{{Cite news |date=12 February 2002 |title=People and events |pages=31 |work=The Newcastle Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited}}

=Exhibitions at Von Bertouch Galleries=

  • 1963, February: First exhibition; works by artists born or resident in Newcastle: Tom Gleghorn, Ross Morrow, Jon Molvig, William Rose, John Olson, Paul Beadle, John Passmore and William Dobell
  • 1963: Shay Docking
  • 1963, August–September: Louis James{{Cite journal |date=9 Nov 1963 |title=National Notebook : Safe Deposit |journal=The Bulletin |volume=85 |issue=4369 |pages=3}}{{Cite journal |date=19 September 1964 |title=Sundry Shows : Art |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-685181060 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=86 |issue=4413 |pages=10}}{{Cite journal |last=Henshaw |first=John |date=12 September 1964 |title=Reviews : Art : The Fashion in Abstracts. Paintings in the art-world merry-go-round |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-685180913 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=86 |issue=4412 |pages=46}}
  • 1963, 18–29 October: Henri le Grand pottery{{Cite news |date=1963-10-25 |title=Prachtig werk van Henri le Grand in de Von Bertouch Gallery |work=Dutch Australian Weekly |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218820700 |access-date=2022-05-04}}
  • 1963, 15 November – 3 December: Collectors' choice{{Cite journal |date=28 November 1964 |title=Sundry Shows : Art |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-685329362 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=86 |issue=4423 |pages=52}}
  • 1963: Tom Gleghorn
  • 1964, from 1 March: Homer Irvine
  • 1964, to 28 July: Owen Shaw{{Cite journal |date=25 July 1964 |title=Sundry Sows : Art |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-685179622 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=86 |issue=4405 |pages=10}}
  • 1964, 25 September – 13 October: William Peascod{{Cite journal |date=26 September 1964 |title=Sundry Shows : Art |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-685181212 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=86 |issue=4414 |pages=10}}
  • 1964, to 17 November: Geoffrey Hooper paintings. Studio pottery by Ivan Englund and Carl McConnell{{Cite journal |date=7 November 1964 |title=Sundry Shows : Art |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-685328877 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=86 |issue=4420 |pages=3}}
  • 1964, to 24 December: Fabrics and Jewellery{{Cite journal |date=19 December 1964 |title=Sundry Shows : Art |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-685330005 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=86 |issue=4426 |pages=51}}
  • 1965: Homer Irvine{{Cite journal |last=Rolfe |first=Patricia |date=8 May 1965 |title=Depression Nostalgia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-682855594 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=87 |issue=4445 |pages=45}}
  • 1965, 30 July – 10 August: Landscapes by 12{{Citation | author1=Von Bertouch Galleries | title=[Von Bertouch Galleries : Australian Gallery File] | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/32484950 | access-date=4 May 2022}}
  • 1967, 10 February – 28 February: Shay Docking
  • 1967, 3 March – 21 March: John Coburn
  • 1967, 24 March – 4 April: Homer Irvine
  • 1967, 7 – 25 April: Michael Kitching
  • 1967, 23 June – 11 July: Noel Counihan{{Cite news |date=1967-06-28 |title=Counihan |pages=6 |work=Tribune |publication-place=Sydney |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237359393 |access-date=2022-05-04}}
  • 1967, 18 August – 2-September: Paintings of people: Charles Blackman, Robert Dickerson, Frank Hinder, Louis James, Michael Kmit, Jeffrey Smart, Francis Lymburner. Also The Aspendale Papers and Interior lithographs by Charles Blackman"
  • 1967, October: David Boyd{{Cite journal |last=Scholfield |first=R. J. |date=21 October 1967 |title=Arts And Entertainment : Going Into Smoke |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-688146819 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=89 |issue=4572 |pages=86–88}}{{Cite news |date=1967-07-22 |title=Boyd's smoke without fire |pages=13 |work=Canberra Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106968078 |access-date=2022-05-04}}
  • 1967, December: Shigeo Shiga, pottery{{Cite news |date=1968-03-05 |title=Leisure : The Arts : Important pottery exhibition |pages=19 |work=Canberra Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107040100 |access-date=2022-05-04}}
  • 1968, from 22 March: Frank Hinder{{Cite journal |last=Lynn |first=Elwyn |date=16 March 1968 |title=Art : Low powered |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-674139940 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=89 |issue=4593 |pages=69–70}}
  • 1968, Lloyd Rees Various Tasmanian Series. The Derwent Estuary 1 and 2; The Edge of the Forest, Tasmania; The Stream from the Mountain; Aftermath; Richmond Hills 1 and 2; The River at Richmond 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
  • 1969, May: Desiderius Orban{{Cite journal |last=Lynn |first=Elwyn |date=17 May 1969 |title=Painting and Sculpture : Newcastle comes in from the fringe with a major event |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1558426074 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=91 |issue=4653 |pages=46}}
  • 1969, August: Norman Lindsay{{Cite journal |last=Hall |first=Sandra |date=30 August 1969 |title=Norman Lindsay: preparing his lifetime for the National Trust |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1603023195 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=91 |issue=4668 |pages=45–47}}
  • 1970, 6 – 23 March: Laurence Hope
  • 1970, April: Judy Cassab{{Cite journal |last=Lyn |first=Elwyn |date=18 April 1970 |title=Painting : Uncertainty of life |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1161064782 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=92 |issue=4700 |pages=52}}
  • 1970, June: Virginia Geyl{{Cite journal |last=Lynn |first=Elwyn |date=13 June 1970 |title=Art : Various anxieties |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1161792825 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=92 |issue=4708 |pages=48–9}}
  • 1971 Shay Docking
  • 1971, from 10 to 23 December: Sculpture by Lenore (BOYD); includes biographical note by the sculptor: folding card invitation.
  • 1972, from 1 March: Memory paintings of days on the track
  • 1972, 28 June – 15 July: House show
  • 1973, 3 August – 27 August: Ray Crooke
  • 1973, October: Rae Richards{{Cite journal |date=27 October 1973 |title=Sundry shows : Art : Newcastle |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1335336870 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=95 |issue=4877 |pages=61}}
  • 1973, November – December: Collectors' Choice: painting, graphics, sculpture, pottery and jewellery. Coburn, Cassab, Crooke. James, Hinder, Gleghorn, Kmit and others.
  • 1973, to 24 December: Lillian Sutherland, Recent Paintings from Lighting Ridge{{Cite journal |date=15 December 1973 |title=Sundry Shows : Art : Newcastle |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1335338557 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=96 |issue=4884 |pages=53}}
  • 1974, February: Robert Campbell Retrospective
  • 1974, to March 11: Print Prize Exhibition and Piers Bateman solo show{{Cite journal |date=9 March 1974 |title=Bulletin Briefing : Art : Newcastle |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1379941140 |journal=The Bulletin |volume=96 |issue=4896 |pages=48}}
  • 1974, 18–28 August: House show
  • 1974, 10–30 November: Newcastle artists: Gavin Crichton, Garry Jones, John Martin, Christine Ross
  • 1975, to 28 April: Maximillian Feuerring, paintings and drawings{{Cite news |date=1975-04-10 |title=Feuerring Show In Newcastle |pages=16 |work=Australian Jewish Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article263229848 |access-date=2022-05-04}}
  • 1975, 22 August – 14 September: International Women's Year – Newcastle artists: Norma Allen, Mary Beeston, Rosemary Coote, Joy Foster, Rachel Frecker, Virginia Geyl, Judy Hepper, Madeleine Scott Jones, Marilyn McGrath, Elizabeth Martin, Margaret Olley, Rae Richards, Christine Ross, Rona Scott, Coughtrie Thurlow, Pauline Tickner
  • 1978, 28 July – 13 August: Silver Ware, Kelims and carpets from Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey and Russia collected by Jeffery Kitto of Sydney
  • 1980 : Shay Docking
  • 1981, 10 April – 26 April: Lloyd Rees; And Yet Australia Calls You Back Again
  • 1983, 11 February – 6 March: Twentieth anniversary exhibition to commemorate the inaugural exhibition of February 9, 1963: Paul Beedle, William Dobell, Thomas Gleghorn, John Molvig, Ross Morrow, John Olsen, John Passmore, William Rose, Charles Lewis, Kay Campbell, Francis Cetlan, Cheryl Cusick, Marion Ermer, Andrew Ferguson, Graham Gilchrist, Ronald Hawke, Gail Johns, Ted Prior, Gordon Rintoul, Christine Ross, Philip Samuels, John Wolseley
  • 1983, 1 July – 24 July: Blue Days on the Derwent. Tasmanian Exhibition by Lloyd Rees.
  • 1984, 17 February – 1 March: Twenty first anniversary exhibition: Charles Blackman, Nancy Borlase, Frank Hinder, Margel Hinder, Louis James, Michael Kmit, Robert Klippel, Alun Leach-Jones, Desiderius Orban, Matthew Perceval, Brett Whiteley, Aldona Zakarauskas
  • 1985, 15 March – 7 April: Lloyd Rees – Sandy Bay Set
  • 1987, 3 – 26 April: Lloyd Rees: Paintings and Graphics
  • 1991, 12 – 28 July: David Middlebrook: paintings and wood blocks
  • 1991, 2 – 25 August: Jamie Boyd: paintings, pastels, graphics.
  • 1991, 30 August – 15 September: Graphics by the famous : etchings, lithographs, screenprints
  • 1992, 28 February – 22 March: David Preston : hand coloured linocuts
  • 1992, 24 April – 17 May: Madeleine Winch : paintings
  • 1993, 19 March 1993 – 12 April: Arthur Boyd; Paintings, Collographs, etchings
  • 1998, 20 March – 12 April: Sixties reviewed: Nancy Borlase, Shay Docking, Robert Grieve, Louis James, Elwyn Lynn, Guy Warren
  • 1998, 4 – 27 September: Works on paper: Sidney Nolan, Donald Friend, John Coburn, Charles Blackman, Arthur Boyd
  • 2003, to 9 March: Judy Cassab{{Cite news |last=Birch |first=Bob |date=22 February 2003 |title=Local lives on display |pages=14 |work=Newcastle Herald}}

Awards

  • Honorary master's degrees from the universities of Newcastle and New England
  • 1979: Medal of the Order of Australia "for services to the visual arts"{{Cite news |date=1979-06-16 |title=Queen's Birthday 1979 Honours |pages=7 |work=Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Special |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article240700753 |access-date=2022-05-03}}
  • 1987: [https://www.newcastle.edu.au/community-and-alumni/alumni/alumni-awards/newton-john-award Newton-John alumni award]
  • 2001: Centenary Medal "for service to the community"{{Cite web |last=Melbourne |first=National Foundation for Australian Women and The University of |title=von Bertouch, Anne Catherine – Woman – The Australian Women's Register |url=https://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE6241b.htm |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=www.womenaustralia.info |language=en-gb}}
  • 2002: The University of Newcastle honorary doctorate of letters{{Citation |author1=Carr, Ashley S |title=The life and work of Anne Von Bertouch (1915–2003) : reflections on history, memory and place |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34958267 |publication-date=2006 |publisher=2006 |access-date=3 May 2022 |author2=University of Newcastle (N.S.W.). School of Humanities and Social Sciences}}
  • 2002: Recognised in Newcastle as a Freeman of the City{{Cite news |last=Barnier |first=Linda |date=14 February 2003 |title=The art of a colourful, influential life |pages=12 |work=Newcastle Herald}}

Author

Von Bertouch's 1959 novel February Dark, runner-up in The Sydney Morning Herald Literary Award, was based on her experience of life in Myall Lakes. It was reissued by Hunniford's Lane Press in 1982. Her other published works include The Ride Home and a 1000-copy limited-edition monograph on sculptor Guy Boyd, described by Canberra Times reviewer Glenda Alexander as a "delightful story, if touched with the hint of sentimentality which the Boyds always seem to attract."{{Cite news |last=Alexander |first=Glenda |date=1976-05-29 |title=Worked in bronze |work=Canberra Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131820176 |access-date=2022-05-03}}

Publications

  • {{Cite book |last=Bertouch |first=Anne |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1069851970 |title=February Dark |date=1959 |publisher=Constable |location=London |language=en |oclc=1069851970}}
  • {{Cite book |last=Von Bertouch |first=Anne |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/27623615 |title=The ride home |date=1983 |publisher=Hunniford's Lane Press |isbn=978-0-9592824-1-2 |location=Newcastle, N.S.W. |language=en |oclc=27623615}}
  • {{Cite book |last1=Golden Age Fine Art Gallery |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/221487561 |title=Guy Boyd survey exhibition: bronze sculpture |last2=Von Bertouch |first2=Anne |last3=Boyd |first3=Guy |last4=Boyd |first4=Phyllis |date=1985 |publisher=The Gallery |location=Ballarat |language=en |oclc=221487561}}
  • {{Cite book |last1=Boyd |first1=Guy Martin |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/781998112 |title=Guy Boyd |last2=Bertouch |first2=Anne von |last3=Hutchings |first3=Patrick |last4=Von Bertouch |first4=Anne |date=1986 |publisher=Lansdowne |location=Melbourne |language=en |oclc=781998112}}
  • {{Cite book |last1=Von Bertouch |first1=Anne |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/220744993 |title=What was it before it was a gallery? |last2=Von Bertouch Galleries |date=1990 |publisher=Hunniford's Lane Press |isbn=978-0-9592824-2-9 |location=Newcastle, N.S.W. |language=en |oclc=220744993}}
  • {{Cite book |last=Von Bertouch |first=Anne |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/26579510 |title=The voyage out: the First Fleet re-enactment |date=1991 |publisher=Hunnifords Lane Press |isbn=978-0-9592824-3-6 |location=Newcastle, N.S.W. |language=en |oclc=26579510}}
  • {{Cite book |last1=Germaine |first1=Max |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1056680264 |title=A dictionary of women artists of Australia. |last2=Bertouch |first2=Anne von |date=1991 |isbn=978-976-8097-13-2 |language=en |oclc=1056680264}}

Archival resources

  • National Library of Australia : [Biographical cuttings on Anne von Bertouch, author, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals], [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2085354 Bib ID: 2085354]
  • National Library of Australia, Manuscript Collection : Papers of Anne von Bertouch, circa 1960-circa 1999 [manuscript], c. 1960 – c. 1999, [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn3292426 MS Acc03.266]
  • Newcastle Region Library : Diary, correspondence and memorabilia [manuscript], 1975 – 1978, Call number: 910.4/VON; Anne Von Bertouch travel documents and diaries [manuscript][https://www.womenaustralia.info/archives/AWH003770.htm]

Death and legacy

Following a severe stroke,{{Cite news |last=Hennessy |first=Carly |date=21 April 2003 |title=Icon of Novocastrian art world in hospital after stroke |work=The Newcastle Herald}} Von Bertouch died on 26 April 2003.{{Cite news |last=Scanlon |first=Mike |date=3 May 2003 |title=City's adieu to art patron |work=The Newcastle Herald}} Her funeral at Christ Church Cathedral with a eulogy{{Citation | author1=Mitzevich, Nick |author-link= Nick Mitzevich| title=Anne von Bertouch, 1915–2003 [Obituary.] | journal=Art Monthly Australia | date=September 2003 | issue=163 | pages=27 | issn=1033-4025}} by Newcastle Region Art Gallery director Nick Mitzevich was attended by 500 mourners.{{Cite news |last=Mitzevitch |first=Nick |author-link= Nick Mitzevich|date=12 May 2003 |title=A moving tribute |pages=7 |work=The Newcastle Herald}} Shortly before her death Von Bertouch bequeathed a total of 136 works from her personal collection to the Newcastle Region Art Gallery, the biggest art collection bestowed to it in 58 years and valued in the millions of dollars;{{Cite news |last=Scanlon |first=Mike |date=8 March 2003 |title=Anne's gift to city far beyond dollars |pages=1 |work=Newcastle Herald}} they were exhibited there in March 2003.{{Cite news |last1=Barnier |first1=Linda |last2=Gadd |first2=Michael |date=3 March 2003 |title=Make a date |work=The Newcastle Herald}} In November 2005 350 artworks still in her gallery were auctioned as required by the Uncollected Goods Act of 1995.{{Cite news |last=Siccluna |first=Sarah-Kate |date=7 November 2005 |title=Gallery of unclaimed art offered to highest bidder |work=The Newcastle Herald}}

After her death manager Gael Davies attempted to hold a 41st Collectors' Choice exhibition on October 31, 2003,{{Cite news |date=1 November 2003 |title=A little part of Anne's legacy on every wall |work=The Newcastle Herald}} and the remaining scheduled shows for 2003, but an estate dispute was underway and the shows could not go ahead;{{Cite news |last=Vallejo |first=Justin |date=25 August 2004 |title=Will dispute closes gallery |work=Daily Telegraph}} consequently the gallery remained closed.{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Matthew |date=2 February 2004 |title=Gallery to stay closed until estate settled |work=The Newcastle Herald}} Von Bertouch left her estate to her then 23-year-old great niece Cassandra Bird and to Davies. In March 2004 Bird sought to buy Davies' share and to reopen the gallery. Davies rejected the offer as unviable and proposed instead a new, smaller gallery be built on a parcel of land in Laman Street from the sale of surrounding land.{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Matthew |date=3 April 2004 |title=Von Bertouch's estate in dispute $ 1. 2m art feud |work=The Newcastle Herald}} The dispute became litigious with the outcome being its sale in 2007 by Supreme Court-appointed trustee Ferrier Hodgson.

The terraces were purchased by Dick Lees for #1,420,000 in 2007,{{Cite news |last=Campbell |first=Tess |date=2 July 2007 |title=Artistic legacy in doubt |pages=16 }} and in 2010 were listed for sale at A$1.6 million. The four terrace houses sold together for a fourth time in 2015.{{Cite news |date=2015-07-03 |title=Famous Newcastle gallery sold for the fourth time |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-04/famous-newcastle-gallery-sold-for-the-fourth-time/6594954 |access-date=2022-05-05}} Matt and Marilyn Sainsbury, new owners of the gallery buildings, with Matt's sister Helen Griffin, commissioned Newcastle sculptor Graham Wilson, an exhibitor at the gallery,{{Cite news |date=18 May 2019 |title=The matriarch of Newcastle art returns home to Cooks Hill |work=The Newcastle Herald}} to carve a bust in Wollombi sandstone honouring her memory and her place in Cooks Hill life. Installed in 2019, it stands outside the former gallery on Laman Street.{{Cite news |last=Wells |first=Ahn |date=24 May 2020 |title=Look again: 11 Newcastle artworks in plain sight. |work=The Newcastle Herald Wells |publisher=Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited}}

References

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Category:1918 births

Category:2003 deaths

Category:Directors of museums in Australia

Category:Australian curators

Category:Australian writers

Category:People from Newcastle, New South Wales

Category:People educated at Sydney Girls High School

Category:Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia

Category:Australian women curators