Information on Dorothy Richmond

Dorothy Kate Richmond, known as Dolla Richmond, was a significant figure in New Zealand's art history and is believed to have had connections to the LGBTI community. Born on September 12, 1861, in Parnell, Auckland, she was the daughter of James Crowe Richmond and Mary Smith, and the third of five children. After the death of her mother in 1865, the family experienced instability, eventually settling in Nelson in around 1869. Richmond's artistic inclinations were nurtured by her father, and she received formal training in art, including attending the Slade School of Fine Art in London.

Richmond's personal life, particularly her relationships, has been a subject of interest, especially in the context of LGBTI history in New Zealand. She never married and is believed to have had lesbian relationships. In 1901, her sister Alla Atkinson expressed concern about Richmond's relationship with Constance Astley, who suffered from tuberculosis, in a letter marked 'special extra private'. Despite societal norms of the time, Richmond formed significant relationships with women, including with fellow artist Frances Hodgkins. They met in 1901 and traveled together in France and Italy before returning to New Zealand in December 1903. Hodgkins described Richmond as "the dearest woman with the most beautiful face and expression," highlighting their close bond.

Professionally, Richmond was a renowned painter noted for her watercolor paintings of natural plants, animals, and panoramic landscapes. Her early artistic career included returning to New Zealand in the early 1880s to keep house for her father and later being appointed as the art mistress at the newly opened Nelson College for Girls in 1883. She exhibited with the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts from 1885 and continued to study and paint, both in New Zealand and Europe. Richmond's father's death in 1898 led to her financial independence, allowing her more freedom to pursue her art.

Richmond and Hodgkins maintained a close partnership, sharing a studio in Bowen Street, Wellington, where they also taught private pupils. After Hodgkins returned to Europe in 1906, Richmond continued to develop her reputation as an art teacher, holding classes at Fitzherbert Terrace School, also known as the Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, from around 1909 to 1924.

Her contributions to the art community were recognized through her role as a Council Member of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts from 1904, and she was honored with a life membership in 1928. Richmond's life and work reflect the complexities and challenges faced by women, especially those with same-sex relationships, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Dorothy Richmond passed away in Wellington on April 16, 1935. Her life story, intertwined with her artistic achievements and personal relationships, presents a nuanced picture of a woman navigating her identity and profession in a time of changing societal norms.