Rosemary Valadon’s large-scale oil paintings are characterised by
theatricality and opulence, feminist agency and vitality. Between 1990
and 1996 she completed The Goddess Series, portraits of
Australian women as mythological/archetypal figures, referring to them
as ‘a testimony to the goodness and healing powers of women’. Her
sitters included actor Ruth Cracknell AM (1925–2002), who considered
this painting to be her definitive portrait. Cracknell became a
household name through her character Maggie Beare in the ABC comedy Mother and Son,
which ran from 1985 to 1994. Over five decades she appeared in many
theatre, television, radio and film productions, including A Cup of Tea, a Bex and a Good Lie Down at the Phillip Street Theatre and a memorable performance as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest for the Melbourne and Sydney theatre companies. After writing her autobiography A Biased Memoir (1997), she published an account of her experience of grief following the death of her husband of 41 years, Eric Phillips, Journey from Venice
(2000). In 2001 she received the Gold Logie Hall of Fame Award and a
lifetime achievement award at the Helpmann Awards. Cracknell was also an
influential spokesperson for older Australian women and an advocate for
First Nations rights.
Purchased 2000
© Rosemary Valadon
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