toggle site navigation National Museums Liverpool Visit What's On Stories Collections Learn Shop Join & Support Stories 10 things you should know about Thérèse Lessore 10 things you should know about Thérèse Lessore Thérèse Lessore, like many women artists from history, has never received the attention and acclaim she undoubtedly deserves. She has historically been referred to as Sickert’s student or assistant, when, in reality, she was so much more. Published By: Ellie Field, Digital Content Producer, 30 November 2021 Article 1. She was a prize-winning artist Thérèse Lessore studied at London’s Slade School of Art between 1904-09, and in her final year, she was awarded the Melville Nettleship Prize for Figure Composition. This prestigious prize is still awarded to this day. Photo of Thérèse Lessore year at the Slade School of Art 2. She had two solo exhibitions Thérèse Lessore had her first solo painting exhibition at the Eldar Gallery in London in 1918. In the exhibition catalogue's preface, Walter Sickert praised her "sense of design, her spare style, and her technical skill in extracting value from the interplay of coloured underpaintings and final coats of local colour". Lessore had her first solo watercolour show in 1926. 3. She was denied entry to the Camden Town Group Sickert was a founder member of this artists’ group, named after the area of north London where several of the artists lived and worked. The Camden Town group’s members aimed to reflect the realities of modern urban life through their art. Lessore frequently painted domestic interiors and scenes of everyday life, much like the Camden Town Group. Despite the similarities in style and subject, Lessore was not allowed to join the group, as women were excluded from becoming members. Bath, Thérèse Lessore, 1938 - 1943, in the Walker Art Gallery collection 4. She was a founder member of the London Group To challenge the domination of the Royal Academy of Arts, which many artists felt had become unadventurous and conservative, the Camden Town Group joined forces with Thérèse Lessore, the English Vorticists and other independent artists to form The London Group in 1913. Other founding members included the women artists Ethel Sands and Anna Hope Hudson. The group still exists today, with over 80 members. Flute and Harp, Therese Lessore, 1884-1945 © National Museums NI, Ulster Museum Collection 5. She was married to Walter Sickert Thérèse Lessore and Walter Sickert had a professional relationship for many years before they married in 1926, following Lessore’s divorce from the painter and textile designer Bernard Adeney in 1921. At the time of their marriage, Sickert was suffering from ill-health. A friend of the couple, Sylvia Gosse, later suggested the marriage was motivated by Sickert’s desire to ensure Lessore would be looked after following his death – their marriage would have entitled Lessore to a widow’s pension from the Royal Academy. Thérèse Lessore, Walter Richard Sickert, about 1920, in the Walker Art Gallery collection 6. Her paintings have been wrongly attributed to Sickert Lessore was known for her delicate brushwork and bright palette, which was quite different to Sickert’s work. As Lessore became more involved in Sickert’s work later on in both their careers, their painting styles merged and they often painted the exact same subject. This led to some of Lessore’s works mistakenly being attributed to Sickert. Lower Common Bath, Thérèse Lessore ©National Museum Wales 7. She was a crucial figure in creating Sickert’s later works With Sickert’s ailing health, the couple moved to Brighton where Lessore became more involved in Sickert’s paintings, even finishing his works when he wasn’t able to. Sickert would have been unable to complete his later paintings without her considerable input. Theatre Audience, Thérèse Lessore, in the Walker Art Gallery collection 8. She came from a family of Artists Her parents were the French painter Jules Frederick Lessore (1849-92) and his wife Ada Louise Cooper. Her grandfather was Émile Lessore (1805-76), a French ceramic artist and painter who had designed and decorated Wedgwood pottery from the 1860s onward. Her brother Frederick Lessore was a sculptor who founded and ran the Beaux Arts Gallery in London, and her elder sister Ada Louise Powell was a Wedgwood pottery designer. 9. She was a photographer Lessore was an avid photographer and would take pictures of everyday life in Brighton. Sickert’s late works were often based on Lessore’s photographs, which she enlarged onto canvas to be painted. Seated Women, Thérèse Lessore, in the Walker Art Gallery collection 10. She is one of many overlooked women artists in history Sickert has traditionally been credited as the dominant artist in their professional relationship and Lessore’s contribution has often been reduced to that of a studio assistant. However, it is critical to acknowledge the creative role that Lessore has played in the production of Sickert’s late works and her role as his collaborator rather than his student. Share: Share via Email Share via Twitter Share via Facebook Share via Pinterest About the contributor Ellie Field Digital Content Producer Ellie Field is part of the Digital Department at National Museums Liverpool, and works on producing digital content, products and experiences for the website and in the museums. Related ‘Matisse has all the worst art-school tricks’ – Sickert’s trash talk Article 6 min read As well as being a renowned impressionist artist, Walter Sickert was also an art critic and wrote many scathing reviews of his contemporaries. Dr Will… Read More 'Sickert recalled his youthful experience as an actor by acting in his own painting' – Sickert and His Theatre Article 5 min read Junxia Wang delves into the world of theatre to understand Sickert’s deep-rooted connection with the stage. Read More Read more About About us Jobs Press Contact us Support Memberships Corporate support Donate Resource Image requests Schools and groups House of Memories Stories Venue Hire Corporate hire Weddings Christmas Filming requests Stay in Touch Receive news about National Museums Liverpool, exhibitions, events and more. Email Signup Email Address Sign up Follow us on Twitter Subscribe to our YouTube Channel © 2021 National Museums Liverpool. All rights reserved. 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