Herbert Gibbs b. 1852

Also known as Herbert William Gibbs
  • Artist (Cartoonist / Illustrator),
  • Artist (Painter)
Late colonial era Western Australian cartoonist. Father of May Gibbs.
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painter and cartoonist, was born in England. He and Cecilia Rogers were both art students when they married. Their daughter May was born in England. Herbert came to Adelaide in June 1881 and his wife and daughter followed in October. In 1885 the family moved to Perth where Herbert became the main (sole?) cartoonist for the first series of 'Possum (1887) continuing in the position when the paper became the W.A. Bulletin in 1888, e.g. The Modern Cinderella (Westralia as Cinderella being promised by her Fairy Godmother that she will be 'as grand as your sisters yet’), lithographic 'Supplement to the W.A. Bulletin 4 August 1888’, copies BL. (The new series of Possum – 1890 – is not in ML, but H.C. Prinsep reputedly contributed to it.)

Lots of Gibbs cartoons in file are not very exciting, an allegory of a sleeping WA and a cartoon of a German newchum being overcome by the size of a Kauri tree are probably the best of them. He taught his daughter and evidently helped her get her cartoons published from the age of twelve. The SLSA has identified some of his cartoons as sources for his daughter’s in their proposed book on May Gibbs and her cartoons (1999).

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Writers:
Kerr, Joan
Date written:
1996
Last updated:
2007

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