Mary Jane Penrose-Johnston

Mary Jane Penrose-Johnston (née Gore) (1858–1944) was an accomplished model maker from Armidale, New South Wales, who became known for her highly detailed miniature farm animals. She began making models with her sisters, Martha and Wilhelmina Gore, during their childhood. The sisters first exhibited their beeswax models at the Sydney Exhibition in 1879, where their models of four cows received a Highly Commended award.

The sisters' models attracted attention for their realism and craftsmanship and were subsequently exhibited at major exhibitions in Australia and overseas, including the Melbourne Centennial International Exhibition in 1888 and the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Mary Jane continued making her models throughout her life and also exhibited them at agricultural and industrial shows.

Her models were constructed using beeswax and other materials, with considerable attention given to anatomical detail and the appearance of the animals' coats. Some models incorporated real cow hair to create realistic coats.

Source: Dictionary of Australian Artists Online, Mary Jane Gore/Penrose-Johnston; Museums Victoria Collections.