# Ruby Winckler

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**Ruby Winckler** (25 August 1886 – 29 July 1974) was an Australian artist.

## Biography

Winckler was born in Sydney 1886 to Captain Augustus Robinson Winckler and Jessie Louisa Winckler ([née](/source/Birth_name#Maiden_and_married_names) Green).[1] She had a brother George born in 1889.[2] Her father held a mining license at [Kiandra](/source/Kiandra,_New_South_Wales)[3][4] and declared bankruptcy multiple times.[5][6] Her brother served in the 2nd Battalion of the [Australian Imperial Force](/source/First_Australian_Imperial_Force) in [World War I](/source/World_War_I) where he was wounded.[7]

Ruby studied art at the [Julian Ashton School](/source/Julian_Ashton_Art_School)[8] and with [Sydney Long](/source/Sydney_Long).[9] She was friends with the Lindsay family and her art style was very similar to that of [Ruby Lindsay](/source/Ruby_Lindsay).[10] The Winckler family lived in [Manly](/source/Manly,_New_South_Wales) and when she wasn't working on her art Ruby was known to be a keen swimmer.[11]

Her first exhibition was with the [Society of Artists](/source/Society_of_Artists_(Australia)) in 1907.[12] She exhibited alongside female artists [Alice Muskett](/source/Alice_Jane_Muskett) and [Ethel Stephens](/source/Ethel_Stephens).[13] She also designed a cover for *[The Lone Hand](/source/The_Lone_Hand_(magazine))*.[14] The following year she exhibited some bookplates[15] and in 1909 her pictures were commended for their "ambitious and promising effort."[16]

Her work was already showing its originality from other female artists of the time with *Sketch for a Frieze* featuring the satyr from Greek mythology[17] and fairy tale illustrations.[18] She exhibited six large watercolours depicting the adventures of Cinderella.[19] Winckler was also associated with the [Society of Women Painters](/source/Society_of_Women_Painters),[20] as well as doing china painting.[21] A large mural she created for the Society of Women Painters exhibition in 1913 was unfortunately damaged by fire[22] and had a huge hole burned at the centre.[23] She also showed with the [Queensland Art Society](/source/Royal_Queensland_Art_Society) that year.[24]

In 1913 Winckler travelled to [America](/source/United_States)[1] where she was commissioned by a [Boston](/source/Boston) firm to illustrate *The Arabian nights' entertainments*.[25] After the author's son disliked some of her pictures causing them to be left out, Ruby remarked at she'd "rather illustrate the works of dead authors - they don't give any trouble."[26] Despite this, her drawings were described as "finely drawn and sympathetic representations of scenes in the great story book."[27]

She was the first of the Australian-born women who became children's book illustrators, with [Edith Alsop](/source/Edith_Alsop)'s *The Cobweb Ladder*[28] and [Ida Rentoul Outhwaite](/source/Ida_Rentoul_Outhwaite)'s *Elves and Fairies*[29] not coming out until 1916. She was also the first to reach an international audience, with Outhwaite only achieving this in 1921.[10] She would also illustrate *Kisington Town*[30] and *Who's Who in the Land of Nod*.[31]

Winckler returned to Sydney in 1916 where she continued exhibiting her fantasy illustrations.[32] She contributed to the Australian Soldiers Gift Book edited by [Ethel Turner](/source/Ethel_Turner) and [Bertram Stevens](/source/Bertram_Stevens_(critic)).[33][34] She was commissioned for a proposed illustrated version of Homer's *[Odyssey](/source/Odyssey)* though this was never realised outside of exhibition.[35][36] These drawings are now held in a private collection.[37] Her last known exhibition was with the Society of Artists in 1918.[38]

Ruby Winckler's papers are held by the [State Library of New South Wales](/source/State_Library_of_New_South_Wales),[39] as well as select artworks.[40]

## Further reading

- [Ruby Winckler papers, \[ca. 1870-1987\], *State Library of New South Wales*](https://search.sl.nsw.gov.au/permalink/f/1cvjue2/ADLIB110366741)
- [Who's who in the land of Nod / by Sarah Sanderson Vanderbilt ; with illustrations by Ruby Winckler, *National Library of Australia*](https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2819604635/view?partId=nla.obj-2819612254)

## References

1. ["Ancestry Library Edition"](https://ancestrylibrary.proquest.com/aleweb/ale/do/login). *ancestrylibrary.proquest.com*. Retrieved 26 December 2025.

1. ["New South Wales Births Index"](https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/l). *New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages*. Retrieved 28 December 2025.

1. ["Government Gazette Notices"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219978015). *Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales*. 16 May 1924. p. 2384. Retrieved 27 December 2025.

1. ["LEASES held under the Regulations of 13th May, 1895, and Mining Laws Amendment Act of 1901."](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222025638). *Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales*. 21 July 1924. p. 3676. Retrieved 27 December 2025.

1. ["IN BANKRUPTCY."](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222203649). *New South Wales Government Gazette*. 2 September 1892. p. 7109. Retrieved 27 December 2025.

1. ["Advertising"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245828929). *Daily Telegraph*. 31 January 1923. p. 12. Retrieved 27 December 2025.

1. National Archives of Australia.

1. ["WOMEN'S INTERESTS"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120806086). *Sunday Times*. 11 April 1915. p. 5. Retrieved 27 December 2025.

1. Kerr, Joan (ed.) (1995). *Heritage: the national women's art book; 500 works by 500 Australian women artists from colonial times to 1955*. Australia: G+B Arts International. ISBN 978-976-641-045-2.

1. Holden, Robert (1992). *A Golden Age : Visions of fantasy : Australia's fantasy illustrators : their lives and works*. Angus & Robertson. p. 113. ISBN 0207166978.

1. ["Australian Women"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163662629). *Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser*. 28 August 1907. p. 558. Retrieved 28 December 2025.

1. ["SOCIETY OF ARTISTS."](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112648372). *Evening News*. 15 August 1907. p. 8. Retrieved 27 December 2025.

1. ["Australian Women"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163662629). *Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser*. 28 August 1907. p. 558. Retrieved 27 December 2025.

1. ["Comments and Enquiries."](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109681897). *Farmer and Settler*. 12 July 1907. p. 8. Retrieved 27 December 2025.

1. ["Society of Artists."](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article263939671). *Australian Town and Country Journal*. 21 October 1908. p. 55. Retrieved 27 December 2025.

1. ["WORK OF THE SOCIETY OF ARTISTS."](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165736156). *Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser*. 24 November 1909. p. 34. Retrieved 27 December 2025.

1. ["A Woman's Letter"](https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-660602960/view?sectionId=nla.obj-674835481). *The Bulletin*. Vol. 29, no. 1497. 22 October 1908. p. 22. Retrieved 28 December 2025.

1. ["Society of Artists, Etc"](https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-692188945/view?sectionId=nla.obj-705870570). *The Bulletin*. Vol. 30, no. 1555. 2 December 1909. p. 15. Retrieved 28 December 2025.

1. ["The Society of Artists' Spring Exhibition"](https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-880398031/view?sectionId=nla.obj-882154383). *Art and architecture : the journal of the Institute of Architects of New South Wales*. Vol. 6, no. 6. 1 November 1909. p. 199. Retrieved 28 December 2025.

1. ["Society of Women Painters' Exhibition"](https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-880651541/view?sectionId=nla.obj-883577575). *Art and architecture: the journal of the Institute of Architects of New South Wales*. Vol. 8, no. 5. 1 September 1911. p. 340. Retrieved 29 December 2025.

1. ["SOCIETY OF ARTISTS."](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168748662). *Truth*. 3 December 1911. p. 6. Retrieved 28 December 2025.

1. ["GOSSIP FROM SYDNEY."](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98853079). *Goulburn Evening Penny Post*. 16 August 1913. p. 6. Retrieved 28 December 2025.

1. ["SOCIETY DOING IN SYDNEY."](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143296036). *Australasian*. 16 August 1913. p. 43. Retrieved 28 December 2025.

1. ["QUEENSLAND ART SOCIETY."](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article175990781). *Telegraph*. 11 September 1913. p. 5. Retrieved 28 December 2025.

1. ["Sydney Week b\[?\]Week. I"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146330769). *Table Talk*. 18 February 1915. p. 34. Retrieved 28 December 2025.

1. ["A Woman's Letter"](https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-657578117/view?sectionId=nla.obj-661821897). *The Bulletin*. Vol. 36, no. 1854. 26 August 1915. p. 18. Retrieved 29 December 2025.

1. ["Ruby Winckler"](https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-392505065/view?sectionId=nla.obj-413310076). *The Lone Hand*. Vol. 3, no. 5. 1 April 1915. p. 330. Retrieved 29 December 2025.

1. Nankivell, Joice & Alsop, Edith (1916). *The Cobweb Ladder*. Melbourne: Lothian Book Publishing Co.

1. Rentoul Outhwaite, Ida (1916). *Elves & fairies*. Melbourne & Sydney: Lothian Book Publishing.

1. Farwell Brown, Abbie & Winckler, Ruby (1915). *Kisington Town*. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

1. Sanderson Vanderbilt, Sarah (1915). *Who's Who in the Land of Nod*. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

1. ["GOSSIP FROM SYDNEY."](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98899379). *Goulburn Evening Penny Post*. 9 December 1916. p. 1. Retrieved 29 December 2025.

1. ["Australian Soldiers Gift Book."](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article124329412). *Sydney Stock and Station Journal*. 15 December 1916. p. 9. Retrieved 29 December 2025.

1. Turner, Ethel & Stevens, Bertram (1918). *The Australian Soldiers Gift Book*. Sydney: Voluntary Workers' Association.

1. ["The Women Painters of Sydney"](https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1127146137/view?sectionId=nla.obj-1246489856&). *The Triad*. Vol. 2, no. 9. 10 June 1917. p. 22. Retrieved 29 December 2025.

1. ["A Woman's Letter"](https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-659411858/view?sectionId=nla.obj-665811465&partId=nla.obj-659447099#page/n19/mode/1up). *The Bulletin*. Vol. 38, no. 1936. 22 March 1917. p. 18. Retrieved 29 December 2025.

1. ["Ruby Winckler, Group of 23 Original Pen and Ink Drawings for a Proposed Illustrated Edition of Homer's Odyssey, 1916-1917"](https://fineartsociety.com.au/artworks/9449-ruby-winckler-group-of-23-original-pen-and-ink-drawings-1916-1917/). *Fine Art Society*. Retrieved 29 December 2025.

1. ["IN THE WINTER GARDEN."](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116788816). *Freeman's Journal*. 17 October 1918. p. 28. Retrieved 29 December 2025.

1. State Library of New South Wales.

1. State Library of New South Wales.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ruby Winckler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Winckler) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Winckler?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.