Gwen
John, was born in Haverfordwest, Wales in 1876. Like her brother,
Augustus John, Gwen studied at the Slade
School of Art (1895-98). On leaving she worked briefly in Paris
with James Whistler and returned to
London in 1899, where she began to exhibit
her work.
In 1903 Gwen John set out with Dorelia McNeill, to walk to Rome. They
only got as far as France and Gwen made the decision to settle in
Paris. Gwen continued to paint and in 1906 began modelling for the
sculptor Auguste Rodin and also became his mistress.
After her conversion to Roman Catholicism
in 1913 she moved to the suburban village of Meudon. In later life
she concentrated on small-scale portraits and still-lifes. Gwen John
died in 1939.
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