Women at Heatherleys: Gertrude Massey

We’re celebrating Women’s History Month with a series of posts to coincide with our Women at Heatherleys Exhibition.⁠

In this article we’re appreciating the contributions of Gertrude Massey (1868 – 1957).⁠

Gertrude Massey was born Gertrude Seth in Brixton, London, where her Prussian born father was a merchant dealing in African goods. (Artist Biographies)

During the late 19th and early 20th Century Gertrude was a recognised miniaturist and watercolourist. Art critic Frank Rutter (1876-1937) noted the “distinguished decorative qualities of Gertrude Massey watercolours”. It’s interesting to note that despite being little know today, she achieved greater commercial success than her artist husband Henry Gibbs Massey who became acting principal of Heatherleys. She ran a busy portrait business from her studio space in their home in St John’s Wood, while Henry worked from a shed in the garden. (Quirk, 2019)

Gertrude and Henry at Heatherleys

Gertrude Seth and Henry Massey met as students of Bavarian-born British painter Sir Hubert von Herkomer. During Henry’s time as a student in Paris he became impressed by the French Atelier System. A far cry from his experience at the Royal College of Art in Kensington where he worked as an examiner, where he became disillusioned with English art education.

When Heatherleys came up for sale, the Masseys “both jumped at it”, determined to make “A Paris Studio in London”. She and her husband Henry Gibbs Massey purchased the school from outgoing Principals John and Mary Compton in 1907. As well as teaching at Heatherleys, Gertrude was heavily involved in the running of the school. When Massey died Gertrude remained active within the institution, becoming Chair of Heatherleys Ltd.

Gertrude was also an early proponent of distance learning and created Heatherleys’ first distance learning course, enabling the school to survive during is closure due to the war. Thanks to her projects, sent by post, Heatherleys students were able to continue their studies.

Royal Commissions

Gertrude received a commission to paint the children of King Edward and Queen Alexandria, grandchildren to Queen Victoria. She wrote a book, ‘Kings Commoners and Me’, published by Blackie & Son Limited in 1934. The book details her experiences drawing and painting the royal children. It also contains her preparatory sketches as well as drawings from her time at Heatherleys. There’s even a drawing of Gertrude herself by the seven year old Prince Edward of Wales who would later become King Edward VIII then Duke of Windsor. You can just imagine her giving him some drawing materials to occupy him while she made her drawings.

Heatherleys has long had Royal associations. A number of Heatherleys tutors have done portraits of the royal family over the years including James Lloyd RP, Miriam Escofet. Several alumni have also painted royal portraits including Leonard Boden and  Luke Martineau.

Eva Massey

The Massey’s had one child, Eva Massey (b. 1895), who exhibited some artistic flair and a good sense of humor as can be seen in this drawing of her father. The colour pencil and ink pen ‘post impressionist portrait’ depicts Henry snoring as he takes a nap after Xmas dinner.

A controversial publication

In 2013 an exhibition of the work of Henry and Gertrude Massey was held coordinated by then principal John Walton (now principal emeritus) and Andrew Sim of Sim Fine Art. The title of the exhibition nad the accompanying publication was “Henry & Gertrude Massey : a life’s class at Heatherley’s[sic].

A PDF of the catalogue can be downloaded here.

The controversy lies in the use of the cover image. It depicts Henry sitting in the studio, to his right is a portrait painting of Gertrude, to his left a topless young female model staring into the distance as he looks at the camera. The absence of the real Gertrude in her own catalogue is palpable. The scene is reminiscent of the Zoffany painting, ‘The Academicians of the Royal Academy’ (1771-1772). Like the two founding women of the RA, Mary Moser and Angelica Kauffman, Gertrude was only permitted representation in the life room in the form of her portrait.

At the time of publication Heatherleys rejected the use of the image. Especially since a number of images of the couple at Heatherleys exist. Yet, the schools wishes were ignored and printing went ahead.

References:

2. Artist Biographies. MASSEY Gertrude 1868-1957. Available at: https://www.artbiogs.co.uk/1/artists/massey-gertrude (Accessed: 09/03/2023).

Image Copyright:

All images are copyright of Heatherleys, unless otherwise stated.

Featured and header image Gertrude Massey (née Seth) and by Bassano Ltd whole-plate film negative, 10 October 1934 licensed under CC BY 2.0