painter, art collector and tradesman, made the original naive, minutely detailed drawing for View of the Opening of the Princes Bridge, Melbourne on Friday 15th November, 1850. To Commemorate the Arrival of Separation. Dedicated by Permission to his Honour C.J. La Trobe, Esq. Drawn by H. Nash (prints Mitchell Library; La Trobe Library) lithographed by Campbell & Macartney. In 1850 he painted the dance-floor of the Melbourne Protestant Hall for the Tradesmen’s Fancy Dress Ball held on 31 December. The Argus reported that 'the floor was very handsomely decorated by Mr Nash, being painted with designs appropriate to the occasion, and referring to our recent Separation from Sydney’, while the Melbourne Daily News regretted that 'such a creditable display of talent should be “trodden under foot”’. Nash, a trade painter and decorator, attended the ball as Julien St Pierre.

H. Nash, presumably the same man, contributed many diverse items to the Geelong Mechanics Institute Exhibition in 1857. As well as six pencil and eight watercolour drawings (untitled) of his own, he lent four China vases and bowls and a 'Crystal and Gold Grog Service’. Titled works he exhibited (medium unspecified) were Chairing the Member and the Harlot’s Progress (presumably after Hogarth), Isola Bella, Italy and Ruins of Paestum, [with] Temple of Jupiter . At the 1869 Ballarat Mechanics Institute Exhibition one H.H. Nash showed two specimens of his ornamental painting.

Writers:
Staff Writer
Date written:
1992
Last updated:
2011