John White (South Australian painter)


John White was a South Australian painter and pharmacist.

History

John White was born in Bath, England and trained as a pharmacist in Bristol. He emigrated to South Australia in 1878, and set up a chemist's shop on Rundle Street, Kent Town, and was in partnership with Philip John Evans as chemists of The Parade, Norwood until April 1888. He purchased the retail arm of F. H. Faulding & Co., and set up pharmacies in Graves Street, Kadina from 1919, operated by his son H. G. White, and at Port Lincoln.
He was a member of George Brookman's original Coolgardie Goldmining Prospecting Company Limited, and made a fortune in the gold mines of Western Australia. He retired in 1899, leaving W. J. Burton as manager of the business.

Painting

He was highly respected as a fine amateur painter and connoisseur, judge and lecturer.
He was a founding member of the Adelaide Easel Club in 1892, and its treasurer from 1899. He joined the South Australian Society of Arts when the two clubs merged in 1901 and was served as its president 1911–1914; 1919–1921 and 1923–1927. He was a member of the Board of Governors of the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery and president of the council, S.A. School of Arts and Crafts 1926–1928.
;Held by the Art Gallery of South Australia:
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;Selected works
These are some works which were praised by contemporary media:
He continued into old age to paint and exhibit fine works, but was no longer selected for special comment by newspaper critics.

Other interests

He was on the board of management of the Adelaide Hospital.

Family

He married Katherine Isabella "Kate" Brookman, second daughter of Benjamin Brookman of Parkside, South Australia, on 24 August 1882. She died after giving birth to son Howard.