Sculptor and art teacher, was born in Hobart. As a youth was given drawing lessons from Mr Schuetz in Hobart, then studied at the Sydney School of Arts (Technical College) under Lucien Henry and Archille Simonetti 1885-89. Appointed Art Master at Hobart Technical College 1890-95 and also taught drawing at the Collegiate School, Hobart (formerly Ladies College) in 1895. He was Secretary of the Art Society of Tasmania in 1890, 1893-94 and exhibited with it in 1894 as well as in the Hobart 'International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art’ held in 1894-95.

Tranthim-Fryer went to London and in 1896 worked for Farmer and Brindleys, where he learnt marble carving, and attended lectures at the RA. In 1896-99 he studied under W. Firth at the Lambeth School of Art (he won a London County Council scholarship giving him free tuition then won annual prizes every year). In 1897 he also studied under Professor Lanteri at the Royal College of Art and worked as a studio assistant to Paul Montford and Onslow Ford. He visited Paris five times, culminating in a visit to Rodin in 1899.

He returned to Australia in 1900 and taught at Sale School of Mines in 1903. Appointed Director of Horsham Working Men’s College in 1904-6, Art Master at Gordon Technical College, Geelong in 1907 and was the first Director of Swinburne Technical College in 1908 and Head of its Art School in 1917, holding both positions until his retirement in 1928. He was a founding council member of the Society of Arts and Crafts of Victoria in 1908 and its president for many years. He also exhibited with the Victorian Artists’ Society in 1900-2 and 1914-28 and the Yarra Sculptors Society in 1901-2 and 1904. He died at Croydon, Vic, on 13 July 1928.

Commissions include War Memorials at St John’s Church of England, Toorak; All Saints Newtown (Vic); St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne, and Sale High School (1923); portrait medallions and busts.

Writers:

Staff Writer

Date written:

1999

Last updated:

2011