Despite exhibiting with the Victorian Academy of Arts in Melbourne it appears that Johnston never actually set foot in Australia. The picture, however, won first prize - "a charming little head" was the verdict in the 'Argus' on December 1 1870.
Painter, exhibited My First Love with the Victorian Academy of Arts in 1870 (cat.23) when he was apparently resident in England. It was awarded a first prize and praised in the Argus 1 December 1870, p.7 as 'a charming little head, painted by Alexander Johnstone’. The artist doesn’t appear to be an Australian – the painting was lent to the exhibition by a Victorian resident.
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