Mary Cecil Allen Mrs RD Elliott

The subject of this portrait by Mary Cecil Allen is Hilda Elliott (1882–1970) who, with her husband, entrepreneur and politician Robert Dunlop Elliott, was a founding benefactor of the Mildura Arts Centre, Victoria, where this portrait is now held, with the title Portrait of Hilda Elliott.

Hilda – daughter of eminent politician and newspaper proprietor Theodore Fink – was very active in her husband’s ambitions and endeavours, and the couple played an important role in Melbourne’s cultural life. Hilda is depicted in what appears to be Allen’s studio.

By 1925, Allen was highly regarded as a painter, particularly of portraits, and as a lecturer on art. Robert had instigated and funded a series of lectures in the 1920s held at the National Gallery of Victoria, some of which Allen presented.