Biography
Sarjeant was born Ellen Stewart in 1868 in Foxton, New Zealand, the eldest daughter of married couple John Tiffin Stewart and Frances Ann Carkeek. [4] [5] Her mother was a social activist. [6] Her father was born in Rothesay, Scotland and was a civil engineer. One of his friends was Henry Sarjeant. [7]
On 11 February 1893, Ellen Stewart married Henry Sarjeant at Christ Church on Victoria Avenue in Whanganui. He was almost 40 years her senior - she was 22 and he was 63. [2] Henry Sarjeant designed their city house The Loggia, 47 Bell Street, Whanganui based on an Italian villa they stayed at during their two-year honeymoon around Europe. [7]
Ellen Sarjeant was a founding committee member of the Wanganui Arts and Crafts Society established in 1901. Her father was also a founding member, serving as vice president. [7] The Society held exhibitions of artwork, and also collected artwork. Its first purchase was by C. F. Goldie. [7] Henry Sarjeant died on 12 February 1912, [8] and in his will bequeathed funds to the Wanganui Borough Council to enable the building of the Sarjeant Gallery and fund its collections. [2] Ellen Sarjeant played a pivotal role in the early administration of the gallery and the acquisition of art for its collection. [2]
After Henry Sarjeant died, Ellen Sarjeant married John Armstrong Neame in April 1913, changing her surname to Neame. [1]
Sarjeant / Neame was an artist, with some of her sketches shown at the third annual exhibition of the Wanganui Society of Arts and Crafts in 1904. [4] Her art included watercolour landscapes and small flower paintings. She was exhibited at Walker's Galleries in New Bond Street, London in 1935. [4]
Ellen Neame travelled extensively in Europe, painting and studying art, and lived in Italy for a time. She died in London on 22 September 1939. [9] In Whanganui, the flag on the City Council offices was flown at half-mast as a mark of respect for Neame's contribution to the city. [9]