Mabel Billah Greenberg (1889-1933) was a British artist.

Early life edit

She was born in Birmingham and was well known in Birmingham and in London. She was the daughter of Israel and Miriam Greenberg of Edgbaston, Birmingham. Israel Greenberg was a jeweller, trading as I.S. Greenberg & Co in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter.[1]

Greenberg studied at Birmingham Municipal School of Art and the Slade School of Art. Two of her works were shown in Slade student exhibitions: Study of a Young Man won first prize for Head Drawing in 1918[2], and Male Figure Standing won the Second Prize for Figure Painting in 1919 and remains in the UCL Art Museum.[3]

Works edit

Three of Greenberg's paintings are in UK collections:

  • Male Figure Standing[3] 1919, UCL Art Museum
  • Helen[4] pre 1931, Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle
  • The Matriarch[5] 1930, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

Other works reported in national and regional press as shown at various exhibitions include:

  • Pictures by MG[6] RSA Spring Exhibition
  • A delightful portrait by MBG[7] Nottingham Castle Exhibition
  • P.C. Spratt [8] Royal Society of Portrait Painters
  • Helen, and The Doll [9] Royal Institute of Portrait Painters in Water Colour
  • Summer Day[10][11] Royal Academy Annual Exhibition
  • Lisette[12] Society of Women Artists
  • Mention, no details[13] Birmingham Group exhibition in London
  • The Matriarch, and Rita[14] Royal Society of British Artists at Derby
  • Portrait, and Tiger Lilies[15] Women Artists of the Midlands

Press references mention a second portrait[16] of Helene (Helen) Hedin, and with a photograph of Greenberg at work, to a portrait of the actor John Stuart.[17]

Death edit

Mabel Greenberg died in London on 30 September 1933 and was buried at Witton Jewish Cemetery in Birmingham.

References edit

  1. ^ "I.S.Greenberg & Co".
  2. ^ McLaughlin, Rosanna (2018-05-14). "What Happened to the Women Artists who Won Prizes in 1918?". Frieze. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  3. ^ a b "Male Figure Standing".
  4. ^ "Helen".
  5. ^ "The Matriarch".
  6. ^ "The Spring Exhibition. Many Examples of Local Works". Birmingham Daily Post. 22 April 1916.
  7. ^ "Arresting Exhibition in Nottingham". Nottingham Journal & Express. 7 February 1920.
  8. ^ "A Woman's Letter (with illustration)". The Daily Graphic. 17 November 1928.
  9. ^ "Art in London". The Scotsman. 29 March 1930.
  10. ^ Sandilands, G.S. (7 May 1932). "One of the Dullest Academies of Recent Years". West Middlesex Gazette.
  11. ^ "This Year's Exhibition. Conservative Standards". The Scotsman. 30 April 1932.
  12. ^ "Art in London". The Scotsman. 16 June 1932.
  13. ^ "Artists and Their "Gay Adventure"". The Birmingham Despatch. 2 March 1933.
  14. ^ "Exhibition of Art at Derby". Derby Evening Telegraph. 18 March 1933.
  15. ^ "Women Artists". Birmingham Mail. 1 June 1933.
  16. ^ "Studio Beauties' Hard Road to Fame". Daily Herald. 15 April 1930.
  17. ^ "Shadowland. Movie Gossip of the Month". The Picturegoer. 1 January 1930.