Bio
Ernest Salter (British Australian 1896-1974) Bio
Born in England in 1896 he learned the trade of ladies shoe design and handbag making as a teenager Ernest won a scholarship to the Tate Gallery to study fine art where he learned much there especially by painting from the Old Masters The First World War interrupted his studies and it was during his time spent in the French trenches that Ernest Salter was awarded a decoration for his Bravery In 1925 he arrived in Australia intending to farm but after a year moved to Heidelberg in Melbourne where he started his own business designing and making ladies shoes and furthering his art career by studying at the National Gallery under George Bell and Max Meldrum Later he became a member and committee member of the Victorian Artists Society Although his shoemaking and designing business was successful by the late 1950’s Art prevailed and Ernest Salter became a full time painter where he could give full expression to his paintings He also found that he yearned to join other artists and pass on his great wealth of knowledge and ability to younger artists That opportunity came in 1968 and together with another local artist Mrs Iris Philippi he helped form the Heidelberg District Artists Society for all who desired he freely made available his extensive knowledge of art and painting Today the Society honours his memory annually with an award to his name The Ernest Salter Award is eagerly sought by the members of the Society he helped to form and develop Ernest has left a rich legacy of paintings – mostly land and seascapes with an occasional still life study Principally a landscape and seascape painter he worked mostly with oils but also with pastels and watercolours Ernest is represented in many private collections both in Australia and overseas including that of the Rt. Hon. J.H. Scullin a former Prime Minister
