Francis Fearn b. 25 March 1835

  • Artist (Printmaker),
  • Artist ,
  • Artist (Painter)
Francis Fearn engaged in a multifarious range of occupational pursuits including gold-prospecting - which unfortunately brought him no luck. He worked at various times as a scene-painter, theatre lessee, and promoter of entertainments. His artistic pursuits were no less varied and in 1884 these finally enabled him to set up as a full-time artist.
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painter, illuminator, scene-painter and engraver, the youngest son of Edward Fearn, barrister, was born in Honiton, Devonshire, on 25 March 1835. After landing at Melbourne from Liverpool on 25 December 1852 he was employed as a clerk until he joined John Hennings as a scene-painter at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne. He tried his fortune at various goldfields but, having no luck, remained in Bendigo as a scene-painter at the Lyceum Theatre and at the Theatre Royal. He then travelled around Victoria, first to Tarnagulla, where he became lessee of the Theatre Royal; to Llanly, where he opened a store and hotel; then to Dunolly, where he painted scenery for the theatre attached to Frayne’s hotel. James Flett reported that Fearn 'had a way of introducing local events into his productions, and once had caricatures of all the leading publicans in the district worked into a stage setting’.

While at Dunolly Fearn exhibited, with a Miss Bevan , Painting—Flowers in Leatherwork Frame at Melbourne’s 1866 Intercolonial Exhibition. He illuminated presentation addresses and did woodcuts for the Dunolly Express . He also promoted many entertainments (the proceeds of which were given to charities), founded a free library and became a borough councillor. He was made a life governor of Dunolly Free Library and Hospital and was appointed a land officer in 1871. After a period as proprietor of the railway refreshment rooms in St Arnaud, Fearn returned to Bendigo about 1884 and set up as a full-time artist specialising in illuminated addresses. He wrote for several publications, including the Bendigo Advertiser . Fearn died on 23 December 1896.

Writers:
Maslen, Joan
Date written:
1992
Last updated:
2011

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