Design and Art Australia Online

painter and sculptor, was born at Ashton-under-Lyne, England. He studied at the School of Arts in Manchester and with Leon Bonnat in Paris. Exhibited Royal Academy 1882, arrived Sydney the same year. One of original members of the Australian Water-color Institute. In the 1880s he conducted weekly art classes at Parramatta; one of his pupils was Edith Cusack .

Exhibited at an art conversazione at the rooms of the Art Society of NSW: “A work which attracted much notice was an admirable portrait of Mr F.C. Brewer , drawn in chalk by Mr J.A. Bennett” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 22 July 1887, p.7).

Adelaide Jubilee International Exhibition 1887: NSW exhibits – Oil Paintings. Art Society of NSW, Sydney – An Old English Peasant – J.A. Bennett – 53 Norwich Chambers, Sydney – £80.0.0. (for sale).

Exhibited in eighth annual exhibition of Art Society of NSW 1887: “Mr J.A. Bennett is another new and welcome contributor. No.15 Home Thoughts is the most noteworthy of his exhibits, it shows careful and conscientious work, and is pleasing in effect” ( Australian Art , January 1888, p.3). “Mr Bennett has sent in three large pictures [oils]. In Home Thoughts the lady sits with her back to the light and holds in her hand a 'Graphic’. A shawl is thrown carelessly about her. The reflection of the light from the dress is good, and the warm hazy atmosphere of summer has been well caught. The picture, though, cannot be considered a success. It lacks force and vitalitynand it does not do enough for its size. His other contributions are Mending Mole Nets and a portrait of Miss Essie Jenyns . The latter is not good work; the former has some excellent qualities, but it is dull and cold in tone. Mr Bennett has not chosen fortunate subjects this time for his talents” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 8 December 1887, p.7). “ Juliet [watercolour] by Mr Bennett whose careful and cultivated work in oils has been noticed” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 10 December 1887, p.11). “ A Cottage Interior by Mr J.A. Bennett, represents an old man mending mole traps, while his wife stands watching by the open door. The faces and attitudes of the two old folks are faithful to life, and all the surrounding details are worked up with much care. Home Thoughts by the same artist, is a good portrait with some strong sunlight effects” ( Illustrated Sydney News , 26 January 1888, p.18).

Exhibited by the Corporation of Sydney at the Melbourne Centennial International Exhibition 1888-9 NSW Court Home Thoughts cat. no. 5 (catalogued incorrectly as J.A. Bennet).

Re Art Society of NSW: council member 1888, 1890, 1893, 1894, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1904, 1905, 1906; vice-president 1907, 1908, 1909. “The following gentlemen were elected as office-bearers for the ensuing year, none of them being opposed:- ... members oc council Messrs J.A. Bennett …” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 30 July 1891, p.3). Votes for the new Council at the Art Society of NSW 1894: “For ordinary members of the council … J.A. Bennett, 70; ...” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 26 July 1894, p.3). Re the election of officers of the Art Society of NSW 1895: “election of officers … ordinary members of council, Messrs J.A. Bennett” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 1 August 1895, p.5). Re opening of the 1896 Art Society exhibition: “Lord and Lady Hampden … were received by … Messrs … J.A. Bennett … (members of the council” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 13 October 1896, p.3).

Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne 1888: NSW Court – Oil Paintings – Bennett, Joseph Arthur, 52 Norwich Chambers, Hunter-street, Sydney – no.1 oil painting Home Thoughts ; no.2 Oil Painting, Cottage Interior – Old Mole-Catcher Mending Traps . Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne 1888: NSW Court – Art Loan Collection – Bennett, J.G. [sic], 52 Norwich Chambers, Hunter-street, Sydney – Oil Paintings – Cottage Interior , Old Mole-Catcher Mending Traps , Home Thoughts .

At ninth annual exhibition of the Art Society of NSW: “J.A. Bennett who contributes ten pictures, amongst them being a striking piece of portrait painting” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 18 September 1888, p.5). “Mr J.A. Bennett sends two pictures; the best, a portrait of Mr John Marden , in cap, gown, and hood – a difficult sombre dress, with which a fine effect has been secured; the pose of the figure is natural and very expressive. The Furze-Gatherer brings back The Mole-Trap Mender , he is, however, out of proportion with the scene around him” ( Sydney Mail , 22 September 1888, p.614).

Exhibited in the Art Society of NSW Autumn Exhibition of watercolours and black and white drawings ( Sydney Morning Herald , 1 April 1889, p.4).

Announced that has taken up new abode in Paling’s new building together with other artists, Fullwood, Mahoney, Spence and Lister. “Their studios are very handsome and with the masion doree [?] just beneath them they are in the thick of luxurious living. Mr Bennett is engaged on a clever sympathetic and faithful portrait of Canon Kemmis . There is a fine intelligence in Mr Bennett’s work” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 20 July 1889, p.7).

Exhibited in tenth annual Art Society of NSW exhibition: “Mr J.A. Bennett has done faithful, intelligent and composed work in his portrait of the Rev. Canon Kemmis . The likeness is excellent, the drawing is good, and the subject is treated with the skill of an artist who if conventional plays no tricks with his powers, attempts no unusual effects and moves over his canvas with an eye for sincerity and finish. He also sends a head and shoulder portrait of quiet merit” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 5 October 1889, p.9). “... the portrait of Canon Kemmis , by Mr J.A. Bennett, which as a likeness and a painting is equally good” ( Sydney Mail , 12 October 1889, p.812).

Exhibited in the Art Society Exhibition in 1890: “Works of distinct merit are furnished by … Mr J.A. Bennett …” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 6 September 1890, p.5). “Mr J.A. Bennett’s largest oil: Girlhood represents a pretty and tall – a little too tall, some people may think – girl reaching up to some flowers. The drawing of the upper part of the figure is excellent, and the colouring is good. The shading of the face is very well managed. Girlhood is a charming composition. Mr Bennett’s second picture Domestic Economy is a quiet, homely scene well treated” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 8 September 1890, p.9).

Exhibited in annual exhibition of Art Society of NSW in 1891: “we may draw attention to Mr Bennett’s excellent likeness of Professor Warren ... which [is a] really strong piece(s) of work” ( Illustrated Sydney News , 12 September 1891, p.12).

Re annual exhibition of the Art Society of NSW 1892: Bennett exhibited portrait busts, Ione [his daughter, Ione Bennett , fl.1906-22] and Mrs Bennett (his wife, Jessie Bennett , fl. 1887-94, reproduced in Building and Engineering Journal , 29 October 1892, p.178). “J.A. Bennett, in his little bust Ione is far more happy than he is in large oil painting of A Bush Clearing “ ( Illustrated Sydney News , 3 September 1892, p.4). “Of Mr J.A. Bennett’s Bush Clearing (101), it must be remarked that the expenditure of much time and labour in drawing every leaf of a tree and every blade of grass will not compensate for monotony and [???] of colour” ( Bulletin , 10 September 1892, p.5).

At fourteenth annual exhibition of the Art Society of NSW in 1893: “In statuary Messrs … Bennett [is one of] the chief exhibitors… Mr Bennett’s bust of Dr Marsden ... [is] particularly worthy of mention” ( Illustrated Sydney News , 2 September 1893, p.3). Re his oil exhibits: “No.267 Across the Lagoons by A.J. [sic] Bennett: A well painted piece of water, with rushy shore, the grey reflected light cleverly treated” ( Illustrated Sydney News , 2 September 1893, p.3).

At the Art Society Exhibition in 1895: “Mr J.A. Bennett has a fine study entitled Buila, a South Sea Islander “ ( Sydney Morning Herald , 28 September 1895, p.7). “Few better things by Mr J.A. Bennett have been seen than the colored head in water-colors of Buila, a South Sea Islander (208), while his portrait of Mr J.D. Fitzgerald (50) is painted with his usual ultra-conscientious care” ( Bulletin , 5 October 1895, p.20).

Re Art Society exhibition in 1896: “Mr J.A. Bennett in Sol, Son of W.J. Adams (no.25) had a fascinating subject to hand in this flaxen-haired little waggoner, and both figure and face of the charming blue-eyed child are felicitously treated” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 10 October 1896, p.7).

At the Art Society of NSW exhibition in 1897: “Mr J.A. Bennett may be depended upon for at least two portrait-pictures” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 21 August 1897, p.5). “During the week the hanging committee of the Art Society which includes … Messrs … Bennett … finished its labours, and the work of cataloguing the pictures is also well advanced” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 4 September 1897, p.4). “Mr J.A. Bennett’s Portrait (no.51), an old lady with a fine face, the black silk dress skilfully handled, is sincerely painted, and is, in fact, as good as any portrait in the gallery” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 9 September 1897, p.5). “Mr J.A. Bennett’s potrait Old China (no.202) is strong and finished” ( Sydney Morning Herald , 10 September 1897, p.2).

Art Society annual exhibition in 1897: “Mr J.A. Bennett exhibits two ambitious potraits, one a three-quarter length of a lady, which would be admirable but for a slight dearth of variety in the flesh tints” ( Daily Telegraph , 9 September 1897).

Re the Australian Art in London exhibition in 1898: “One has not space to mention all the good things but I would direct the visitors’ attention to work by Messrs … J.A. Bennett” ( Pall Mall Gazette ; reprinted in Sydney Morning Herald , 12 May 1898, p.7).

Re Art Society annual exhibition in 1898: “In Mr J.A. Bennett’s work for instance, especially no.61 one finds that sensational smoothness of touch and flatness of effect which denotes immaturity” ( Daily Telegraph , 10 September 1898).

Writers:

Staff Writer

Date written:

1999

Last updated:

2011