George James Coates

George James Coates was an Australian artist.

Coates was born in Emerald Hill , the son of John Coates, an artistlithographer of English stock, and his wife Elizabeth, a daughter of Ephraim Irwin who came from Ireland. George Coates was educated at St James Grammar School, then at the age ofwas apprenticed to a firm of glassstainers, Messrs. Ferguson and Urie. He attended the North Melbourne school of design and then joined the evening classes at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School in Melbourne under Frederick McCubbin. He could not, however, attend continuously. His father had died when he was eight years old and the boy was sometimes unable to afford the comparatively low fees. Though not tall he was beautifully formed, an excellent swimmer and a firstrate amateur boxer. Lionel Lindsay tells the story of how a trainer had suggested that he should give up art and take up a mans work.

Source: Wikipedia