Portrait of a bushranger, thought to be Frank Gardiner by William Reay

ML 1641

fonds

1867

Graphic Materials, Paintings

9676340

1 painting - oil on canvas - 145 x 119 cm

William Reay was born in 1830 in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, studying art under William Bell Scott and practicing as a painter in various parts of England. Encouraged by the touring success of his work 'Adam and Eve Expelled from Paradise', he came to Australia in 1861, but a lack of artistic prospects led to him becoming a miner. Amongst others, he was commissioned to paint the portrait of Governor Sir John Young (later Lord Lisgar), and he held the post of art master at Newcastle Grammar School for nineteen years. In later life, he also composed poetry. He died on 25 May 1903 in Waratah, Newcastle, New South Wales.

Source:
Design & Art Australia Online. "William Reay". Accessed 22 December 2023. https://www.daao.org.au/bio/william-reay/

Previously auctioned as Lot 525, The Contents of Mount Pleasant (the estate of J. Forsythe), Paul Taylor Auctions, East Maitland, 1 December 2007. May have originally belonged to Thomas Hardy of Lambton, near Newcastle, referenced in an inscription on a photograph of the painting: "From an oil painting [by] [?] Reay 4 x 3 feet Lent us by Thos. Hardy, Lambton Near Newcastle", State Library of New South Wales, SPF/1467

Oil on canvas painting of a bushranger, thought to be Frank Gardiner, by William Reay, 1867. The work shows the bushranger about to mount his horse, looking back accusingly towards the viewer. Visible in the background are two other bushrangers on horseback.

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

Signed and dated "Wm Reay 1867" in lower left corner.

Though there is no written confirmation that the subject of this painting is Frank Gardiner (specifying only "The Bushrangers"), supporting pictorial material and newspaper descriptions suggest a strong likeness to Frank Gardiner.