Muriel Binney
Subject or historical figure
Muriel Binney
(Australian, 1873 - 1949)
Datec 1908
Object number00018375
NamePhotograph
MediumSilver gelatin print on paper mounted on card.
DimensionsImage: 120 x 84 mm
Mount: 146 x 102 mm
Overall: 146 x 102 mm
Mount: 146 x 102 mm
Overall: 146 x 102 mm
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Anne Fripp
DescriptionThis silver gelatin print is of Muriel Binney, a dilettante artist and inventor active in Sydney during the early 1900's.The photograph was most likely taken at around the time she entered her painting, Panorama of Sydney Harbour, into the First Australian Exhibition of Women's Work, held in Melbourne in 1907. The panorama was then selected for display in the Australian Pavilion at the Franco-British Exhibition in London in 1908 where it was awarded a silver medal.HistoryDuring the time this photograph is believed to have been taken, 1900 - 1910, Muriel Binney was living in Elizabeth Bay with her husband Edward and two sons, Richard and John. Although not a professional artist, Muriel had shown an interest and apptitude for painting and drawing since her youth. She was clearly still very much pursuing her artistic interests at this time as this was the era in which she painted the Panorama of Sydney which was entered into the public exhibition in 1907. Family collections contain Christmas and greeting cards also by her and cartoons and sketches she made for her children.
Her later attentions were focused primarily on her inventions. Of note is her design for a portable cot, known as the Warren Lodge Cot, in 1908 which was also exhibited at the Franco-British Exhibition in London.
SignificanceThis photograph of Muriel Binney is from her family collection and is inscribed on the reverse with "Granny Binney". It adds a valuable personal dimension to an artist now known for her Panorama of Sydney Harbour and her inventions both of which were acknowledged by winning prizes at the London Exhibition of 1908. Both the scale of her panorama and her long term pursuit of new inventions are indicative of a highly enquiring mind and a foray into genres and fields traditionally pursued by men. 
