This timeline traces Josephine’s journey – her studies, exhibitions and achievements – highlighting a legacy that continues to be recognised in public collections and exhibitions today.
Timeline
- 1862. Born on 30 March in Barfold, Victoria.
- 1871. Family moved to Prahran, Melbourne.
- 1875. Arrived in Melbourne from Liverpool, on the ship ‘Theophane’ (departure date unknown).
- 1876. Began art training at the Prahran School of Design.
- 1882, 1884–89. Attended the National Gallery School, Melbourne.
- c.1890. Attended the Académie Colarossi, Paris, France.
- c.1892–96. Attended the Herkomer School of Art, Hertfordshire, England.
- 1898. Married Samuel Howard Adams in Melbourne.
- 1898. Care purchased for the Queensland Art Gallery – the first work by an Australian artist purchased for the collection.
- 1898–1903. Lived in Brisbane, teaching and exhibiting extensively.
- 1903. Husband Samuel Howard Adams died suddenly.
- 1903. Returned to Melbourne.
- 1905–08. Council Member, Victorian Artists’ Society.
- 1908. Departs Melbourne on 29 December for Naples (Napoli), Italy, embarking on a round-the-world journey with her sister Edith.
- 1911. Returned to Melbourne in June. Sister Edith died suddenly not long after their return.
- 1912–13, 1916. Council Member, Victorian Artists’ Society.
- 1912–1917. Lived in Melbourne, Victoria.
- 1917–1922. Returned to Brisbane to teach painting at Central Technical College.
- 1922. Returned to Melbourne, Victoria.
- 1943. Retrospective exhibition held at the Athenaeum Gallery, Melbourne.
- 1945. Retrospective exhibition held at the Sedon Galleries, Melbourne.
- 1949. Died on 18 November in Windsor, Melbourne.
- 1975. Muntz Street in Chisholm, Canberra named in Josephine’s honour. The suburb itself was named after Caroline Chisholm and its streets in honour of other notable Australian women.
Galleries and public collections
Josephine’s work is held in a range of public and private collections across Australia. While some pieces may be on display, others may be in storage or accessible only by request.
- Art Gallery of Ballarat
- Art Gallery of Western Australia
- Art Museum, The University of Queensland
- Benalla Art Gallery
- Bendigo Art Gallery
- Castlemaine Art Museum
- City of Greater Geelong
- City of Port Phillip
- Duneira Estate, Mount Macedon
- Lyceum Club, Melbourne
- National Gallery of Victoria
- Parliament House, Canberra
- Parliament House, Victoria
- Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art
- Melbourne Magistrates’ Court
- Ormond College
- The University of Melbourne
Solo exhibitions
- 1917. Central Technical College, Brisbane
- 1943. Athenaeum Gallery, Melbourne
- 1945. Sedon Galleries, Melbourne
Awards
- 1885. Honourable mention, Drawing prize, National Gallery School
- 1898. Gold medal for portraiture, Greater Britain Exhibition, London
- 1899-1900. Queensland Art Society Award
- 1901. Commonwealth Exhibition of Australian Art
Group exhibitions
- 1886–9. Annual Student Exhibitions, National Gallery of Victoria
- 1893. Paris Salon
- 1901. Commonwealth Exhibition of Australian Art
- 1902. 14th Annual Exhibition, Queensland Art Society
- 1903. 6th Annual Federal Exhibition, South Australian Society of Arts
- 1907. Australian Exhibition of Women’s Work, Melbourne
- 1908. Victorian Artists Society
- 1926. Archibald Prize Exhibition
- 2002. 90th birthday exhibition, Lyceum Club, Melbourne
- 2007. ‘Portrait of an Exhibition: Centenary celebration for the first Australian exhibition of women’s work 1907’, Castlemaine Art Gallery
- 2022–23. ‘Beating About the Bush: A new lens on Australian impressionism’, Ballarat Art Gallery
- 2025. ‘The School of Paris: Australian artists abroad’, Bendigo Art Gallery
- 2025. ‘Turner & Australia: the first major exhibition to survey the profound influence of J.M.W. Turner on Australian art’, Gippsland Art Gallery
- 2025–2026. ‘Dangerously Modern: Australian women artists in Europe 1890–1940’, Art Gallery of South Australia & Art Gallery of New South Wales