BURGE, Maud née WILLIAMS, May 1865–1957

Born Wellington, third of thirteen children. Was a pupil of Nairn and around the turn of the century painted at Goldie's studio in Auckland. Later studied in France; was a pupil of Fred Mayer, an English watercolourist. In about 1911 married George Burge and in England painted with France Brangwyn, in Belgium, and with Phillip Connard. Frances Hodgkins had probably known her as one of Isabel Field's circle in Wellington. In 1924 Frances Hodgkins wrote of this “charming changeable woman” living in Montreuil; and painted in the Burges' garden at St Tropez 1931 persuading husband and wife to take up painting seriously and from an advanced level, though Mrs Burge had been sending work to the NZ Academy of Fine Arts since 1920. Frances Hodgkins was with them again at Majorca 1932 and at Ibiza where Mrs Burge accompanied Frances as a painting companion. About 1937 came back to New Zealand, settling at Taupo but later moving to Masterton. Exhibited NZ Fine Arts Assn 1883 (a portrait); NZ Academy of Fine Arts 1899–1910 intermittently as Miss M. Williams, 1912–13 as Mrs Burge. A watercolour of Montreuil and an oil of a Maori are in NAG.