Emily G Court was an accomplished British painter of landscapes, still lifes and coastal scenes. Orphaned as a child, she studied initially at the Clergy Orphan School before enrolling at the Royal Female School of Art in South Kensington followed by the prestigious Slade School. She won numerous awards, particularly for flower painting, including the Carnegie Institute Flower Prize in Washington DC.

She exhibited regularly at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, where she became a member, and also across the provinces. Examples of her work are held at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and Kirklees Museums and Galleries.

Both her birth date and middle name are incorrectly recorded in other sources. Her correct birth date is 1876 and her middle name is Gladys, not Gertrude. Verified via ancestry records.

Exhibited

Royal Academy, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Bowes Museum, Society of Women Artists, Abbey Gallery, Connell & Sons Gallery, Goupil Gallery, International Society, Folkestone Art Gallery, The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers at the Grosvenor Gallery in London, Metropolitan School of Art, Hull Art Gallery, Oldham Art Gallery, Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Art, Huddersfield Art Gallery, New English Art Club, Palace of Arts in London, Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, Manchester City Art Gallery, Royal Hibernian Academy.

Public Collections

Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Kirklees Museums and Galleries.

Timeline

1876

Born in Widdington, Essex, to James C L Court, the rector of Widdington and Ellen Court.

1881

Lived in Widdington, Essex, with her parents, seven siblings, and three servants.

1891

Following the death of her parents, she lived in Widdington, Essex, with her siblings and one general servant. Her oldest brother James is recorded as head of the house.

1892

Awarded the silver star of the Royal Drawing Society while attending The Clergy Orphan School, St John’s Wood, London.

C. 1895

Enrolled at the Royal Female School of Art in South Kensington, London.

1896

Awarded a National Queen’s Prize for a study of ‘Canterbury Bells and Foxgloves’ at the Royal Female School of Art. As referred to in The British Architect.

“The Government School of Art for female students in London was first begun at Somerset House in 1842, five years after the School of Design for male students. In 1847, owing to a want of accommodation, the female students were removed to other premises, and in 1852 were transferred to Gower Street, under the title of School of Practical Art. In 1860, the school was removed to its present premises in Queen Square, as an independent institution, and since then it has also received the distinctive title of the Royal Female School of Art. The results of this year’s competitions were made known on Friday last, when the annual exhibition of students’ work was opened. The Queen’s prize this year goes to Miss Emily G Court, for a study of Canterbury bells and foxgloves, and to Miss Mildred Jackson for a painting in monochrome ornament.”

Studied at the Slade School in London under Frederick Brown, Henry Tonks, Philip Wilson Steer and Sir Walter Russell.

1901

Boarded in Chilcomb Within, Winchester, Hampshire.

1911

Lived in Westminster, London, with Arthur Howard Blake, a journalist. Occupation recorded as ‘Landscape Painter’.

1913

Debuted at the Royal Academy with ‘The Fountains’. Address recorded as Chelsea, London. She exhibited 40 works in total between 1913 and 1954.

1915

Address recorded at the Royal Academy as Linden Road, Bedford.

1916

Address recorded at the Royal Academy as Yeoman’s Row, SW, London.

1922

The Gentlewoman. Royal Academy review.

“Miss Emily Court shows ‘A Breezy Day, Sandbanks’ delightful for its beautiful colours, its brilliant light and airiness.”

Before 1923

Elected a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters.

1925

Shown at the Carnegie International Exhibition. Awarded the 'Garden Club Prize' by the Carnegie Institute for 'Blue and Silver', a still life. Walter Sickert won it the following year.

1926

Belfast News-Letter. Review of an exhibition in Belfast by JT Godfrey, art dealer.

“Another lady, Emily Court RI, who recently won the 100 guineas prize in America for the best English flowerpiece is represented by a number of excellent landscapes.”

1933

Works shown in France.

1939

Lived in Wantage, Berkshire.

1943

Address recorded at the Royal Academy as Fulham Road, SW3, London.

1957

Died.