Artist Information
Artist
Maude Mary Lettice (1878-1976)Role
PainterDate made
n.d.Time Period
19th Century, 20th CenturyNotes
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Born and educated in Victoria, B.C., Maude Mary Lettice (aka Margaret Katherine “Kate” Lettice) was a successful amateur painter whose patrons included the Duchess of Devonshire and the B.C. Lieutenant-Governor Walter Cameron Nichol. She lived in Vernon, B.C. for many years, moving back to the family residence, "Yaxley", on Faithful Street in Victoria after the death of her husband.
Lettice was a member of Island Arts and Crafts Society, and a life member of the Victoria Sketch Club exhibiting for over 30 years from 1910 to 1941. She also exhibited for many years in the annual B.C. Artists exhibitions at the Vancouver Art Gallery, from the early 1930s to the mid-1950s. She was also a founding member of the Federation of Canadian Artists. Lettice died in Victoria at age 97.
Lettice was also one of 118 Canadian artists who, in 1932, demanded reform at the National Gallery of Canada including a government investigation and threatened a contentious boycott. In addition to the Gallery, the controversy involved the Canadian Group of Seven, the Royal Canadian Academy, various key artist societies (incl. the Island Arts and Crafts Society), Government Ministers and many professional artists. See Web Links.