‘Great Hall’ University

John Barclay Godson (1882 - 1957)

Godson was born in Newcastle, England and 190 his occupation was recorded as ‘Art Pupil Teacher’. He studied etching at the Royal College of Art in London under Sir Frank Short.  On 13 May 1911, giving his occupation as Art Master, J. B. boarded the ship Togariro from London to Wellington, New Zealand to take up a staff position at Auckland Technical College[1911-1913]. Barclay then moved to Australia from Wellington on 4 August 1914. In 1916 the Art Gallery of New South Wales bought a print of “Cobles at Staithes, Yorks”, dated 1911. In 1920 Godson was a founding member of the Australian Painter- Etchers’ Society, exhibiting twelve prints in their inaugural exhibition in 1921, including ‘Cobles at Staithes’. He married Mary E M Coleman in 1921 in Sydney. She died 1926 along with their son, John M Godson at Chatswood NSW. In 1930 J. B. lived at 145 George Street North, Darling Harbour, West Sydney and in 1931 he married Hilda Mary P Kettley at Sydney. Between 1929 and 1933 he advertised in the Sands Directory with a working address on Alfred Street, North Sydney. In 1933 J. B. and Hilda lived at 52 Phillip Street, King, East Sydney, but by 1936 had moved to 27 Awaba Road, Warringah, Mosman. The following year [1937] they were at 10 Upper Avenue Road and he gave his occupation as Art Teacher as opposed to artist which he had stated in earlier electoral rolls. In 1940 J. B. painted a portrait of Mrs R G Gardiner, the daughter of a local dignitary. In 1943 J. B. and Hilda had moved to 10 Warringah Road, Warringah but by 1949 they were living at 46 Smith Road, Bennelong, Artarmon. They were still at this address in 1954. Hilda died in 1955. John Barclay Godson died in Artarmon, Sydney, New South Wales in 1957, aged 82.

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