Portraits of Watkin Tench and Anna Maria Tench

fonds

1787-1844

Graphic Materials, Watercolours, Paintings

9673600

2 watercolours - on ivory
2 paintings - oil on canvas

Watkin Tench (1758-1833) entered the Marine Corps as a second lieutenant on 25 January 1776 and served in the American War of Independence. He was promoted to captain-lieutenant in September 1782.

In 1786 he volunteered for a three-year tour of service with the First Fleet in the marine detachment under Major Robert Ross, sailing on the transport Charlotte on 13 May 1787 and arriving in Botany Bay on 20 January 1788. It is thought that Tench had his portrait painted by an amateur miniaturist prior to his departure from England. The later miniature, dating from the early 1790s, has recently been attributed to Irish artist, Frederick Buck one of the most prolific and successful miniaturists of the early 19th century. Born in Cork, he established a thriving business in his home town, and gained commissions from the numerous soldiers who passed through. It has not been confirmed whether Tench travelled through Cork, this portrait is likely not to be Tench, perhaps a friend of Tench’s.

After four years in Sydney, Tench returned to England in December 1791 with the marine detachment in the Gorgon. Promoted to brevet major on his return. In 1792 Tench married Anna Maria Sargent (1765?-1847) soon after his arrival home from Sydney. They had no children, but in 1821 they adopted the four orphaned children of one of Mrs Tench's sisters and her husband Captain Bedford, R.N.

The Grylls family believe the two oil portraits were painted by Richard Thomas Pentreath (1806 -1869), a popular Cornish portrait and landscape painter, however his active period of painting was after Tench’s death, in the 1840s-50s. In 1821 Tench returned to the active list as commandant of the Plymouth Division, retiring with the rank of lieutenant-general on 18 July 1821 and died at Devonport, Plymouth. His portrait and Anna Maria’s could have been painted anytime up until his death in 1833, and as some of his adopted children lived in Penzance, Cornwall, Tench may have commissioned portraits to be painted by a young Pentreath, but this is uncertain.

Reference:
Library correspondence file

By descent from Watkin Tench and his wife Anna Maria to John Sargent Bedford (nephew of Anna Maria Tench), Delboeuf Baker Bedford (brother of John Sargent Bedford) and then to the Grylls family.

Comprises two watercolour on ivory miniature portraits thought to be of Watkin Tench, and two oil on canvas portraits of Watkin Tench and his wife Anna Maria Tench

Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales