Portrait of Thomas Hudson Davis, his wife Elizabeth Taylor, and their son Henry Inman Davis
John Alexander Gilfillan, Artist
This is one of the
paintings
in our collection.
It was made in
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
in circa 1848.
See full details
Object Detail
About the Work
Portrait
of
an
early
pioneer
Whanganui
family.
Thomas
Hudson
Davis
was
an
organist
and
played
the
first
instrumental
music
in
a
church
in
Whanganui.
Before
arriving
in
Whanganui
from
1848-1850
he
and
his
wife
Elizabeth
(née
Taylor)
were
in
charge
of
St.
James'
Church
School
in
Sydney,
while
he
was
the
organist
for
the
church
there.
The
family
moved
to
Whanganui
circa
1855.
The
portrait
shows
their
eldest
son
Henry
Inman
Davis.
Henry
Inman
Davis
was
born
in
Sydney
in
1846,
it
is
possible
this
painting
was
completed
about
1848.
They
had
a
further
3
sons
and
1
daughter.
Measurements
Image 745 x 626mm
Frame 885 x 755mm
Frame 885 x 755mm
Media
oil on canvas
Description
Painted family portrait showing the father and husband in a black suit with white shirt standing with one hand on his hip and the other holding the back of the chair his wife is sitting in. The wife is wearing a burgundy coloured dress off the shoulders with a deep lace collar and jewel at centre of neckline. She is looking towards her husband, she is seated in a chair with her son leaning across her lap. She is holding her son's hand, with her other hand across his back. The child is wearing a white gown and is standing on a footstool. To the left is a circular table with vase of flowers, an open lidded box (jewellery box?) with a red curtain behind it. To the right are other items of furniture including a piano in the darkened interior.
Credit Line
On long term loan to the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui. Collection of the Davis family.
Collection Type
Loans
Acquisition Date
07 Mar 1997