Gwen John - welsh artist ( 1876 - 1939 )

She was the sister of the artist Augustus John but his complete opposite artistically as she was in personality, living a reculsive life and favouring introspective subjects.She studied at the Slade Schol in Paris and took lessons from Whistler. She lived in Paris for most of her life and was Rodin's lover. In 1913 she became a Catholic and she said ' My religion and my art , these are my life ' . Most of work consists of single figures in interiors - good examples of her work can be found in the Tate Gallery and National Portrait Gallery , London. Her brother's prophecy that one day she would be considered a better artist than him has been fufilled, for as his star has fallen her's has risen and by the 1980's she had achieved cult status.