Jo Sweatman
Estelle Mary (Jo) Sweatman (1872-1956), was an Australian painter. She was a founding member of the Twenty Melbourne Painters Society. Biography. Sweatman was born in South Yarra 1872. She took drawing classes at a suburban ladies' college, and was recommended by her teacher to join the National Gallery School, where she studied for two years under Frederick McCubbin. She also studied painting while at the school with Bernard Hall. Sweatman was initially involved with the Victorian Artists' Society but her support for Max Meldrum eventually led to her being ousted along with friend A.M.E. Bale. She started  her career painting portraits but eventually found the lure of nature led her towards landscapes. Building her house 'The Kipsy' next door to fellow artist Clara Southern, they both took an active role in developing the artistic community in Warrandyte, Victoria. She helped establish annual art exhibitions with the Warrandyte Women's Auxiliary Association, serving on a committee of resident artists as secretary. She was a founding member of the group, "Twenty Melbourne Painters Society", that was formed by students and followers of Australian Tonalist Max Meldrum. Sweatman was considered to be one of Australia's most famous painters of  wattle. She has works in the collections of the Hamilton Gallery, Castlemaine Art Museum, and the National Gallery of Victoria. In 1922 Sweatman was a finalist for the Archibald Prize for her "Portrait Miss A.M.E. Bale". The same year A.M.E. Bale was a finalist with her portrait of "Miss Jo Sweatman". Sweatman died in 1956.