Henry Allan

  • Artist (Painter)
Portrait painter and settler in New South Wales. Allan's two undated portraits, both of which are in the Mitchell Library at the State Library of New South Wales, depict his brother George Octavius and a woman, Henrietta Allan, who is presumed to be George's wife.

portrait painter and settler, was a son of David Allan, a Scot, and his first wife, Sophia. His father served as deputy commissary-general of New South Wales in 1813-19 and was granted a large landholding near Port Kembla. After returning to England in 1819, he maintained links with the colonies, and a number of sons (including Henry) later settled in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. David Allan returned to New South Wales himself in about 1829 and remained there for the rest of his life.

Two undated oil portraits by Henry Allan are in the Mitchell Library. The larger depicts his brother George Octavius, eighth son of David Allan, a trustee and manager of the New South Wales State Savings Bank in 1854 68, who died in Sydney in 1878. The subject of the smaller work is Henrietta Allan, possibly George’s wife.

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