early life and education

maud frances eyston sumner, a renowned south african artist, was born in johannesburg, transvaal colony in 1902. she completed her schooling at roedean in johannesburg, followed by a stint at oxford university (1922-1925), where she studied literature. her artistic journey then led her to the westminster school of art for painting and eventually to paris in 1926, where she spent four years at the academie de la grande chaumière.

artistic influences and style

sumner was deeply influenced by the french art scene and was part of the ateliers d'art sacré movement. her work reflects the teachings of masters george desvallieres and maurice denis, characterized by the infusion of religious undertones into everyday scenes. as a designer for the stained glass manufacturer goddard & gibbs, her artistic versatility is evident.

career highlights and achievements

* **invitation to exhibit with the new group (1938)**: sumner was invited by walter battiss to exhibit with the new group, a significant milestone in her career. * **medal of honour (1971)**: she was awarded the medal of honour by the suid-afrikaanse akademie vir wetenskap en kuns, accompanied by a successful "semi-retrospective" exhibition at the south african association of art gallery in pretoria. * **exhibition at the south african association of art gallery**: this exhibition marked a pivotal moment in sumner's career, showcasing her artistic prowess.

later life and legacy

sumner's time in paris in 1978 was marked by her diagnosis with guillain–barré syndrome. she passed away in early january 1985 at her home in melrose, johannesburg.

• view maud frances eyston sumner's artworks on TopImpressionists
• read more about maud sumner on wikipedia
• explore the south african association of art gallery's collection on TopImpressionists's museum page

sumner's legacy continues to inspire artists and art enthusiasts alike, a testament to her enduring impact on the south african art world.