Portrait of Vice Admiral John Hunter…
Portrait of Vice Admiral John Hunter, second governor of New South Wales…
London: 1819.
Early nineteenth century oil painting on ivory of Vice Admiral John Hunter, 106 x 76 mm, housed in the original ebonised and gilt frame.
A fine Portrait of Admiral John Hunter; Commander on the First Fleet and Australia's second Governor, 1795-1800
Click here to see the separate catalogue we have prepared for this important portrait.
Click here to see the separate catalogue we have prepared for this important portrait.
A most remarkable discovery: this previously unknown original portrait on ivory of Australia's second Governor, Vice Admiral John Hunter (1737-1821), was painted by William Minehead Bennett in I819, and has remained in the possession of Hunter's family and descendants until modern times. A new discovery, it extends the series of portraits of this distinguished figure in Australian history to just four, of which it is the last, portraying Hunter a few years before his death in 1821. The series of portraits, two of which are in the collection of the National Library of Australia and one in the Dixson collection at the State Library of New South Wales, are all by the same artist, and depict the governor at different ages.
With its exceptional provenance from the Hunter and related Kent families, this portrait and its history of ownership are closely entwined with both the First Fleet; one of the more remarkable voyages of colonisation in the world's history, and with the subsequent foundation of the English settlement of New South Wales.
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Provenance: Inscriptions verso describing family descent of the painting to naval captain W.G.C. Kent, given it by "Miss Kent", a later family hand noting that "Admiral Hunter was a Grand Uncle to Capt. W.G.C. Kent, R.N.".
Condition Report: Slight bowing to ivory at right side; some general ageing to painted surface, the inscription on verso of frame and the ebonised frame; otherwise in complete, original condition.