John Mitchell Cantle b. 24 October 1849

Also known as J. M. Cantle
  • Artist (Painter),
  • Artist (Painter)
Late colonial era ornithological painter, illustrator, cartoonist and postcard designer. One major catalogued private collection of Cantle's ornithological paintings exists, the works each annotated and dating between 1887 and 1918, but mainly dated from 1887 and 1895.
Tags: Ornithological watercolourist
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Painter and illustrator, Sydney. Cantle’s essential lifetime work consists of several hundred watercolour and gouache paintings of birds. Made with great attention to detail, including date, place and size, they are scrupulously annotated. Cantle also worked in conjuction with the Australian Museum, Sydney, and some of his works are of museum specimens (including a few non-Australian birds) Most were sketched in the wild in the Sydney area, but also throughout eastern NSW. Many were done when he was a railway surveyor. Also known for his series of ornithological subjects (Australian birds) postcards, including comic ones. A watercolour (possibly gouache) painting of birds bathing is held in a private collection and is presumably an original for one of his postcards. Exhibited RAS 1883.

A single catalogued collection of 228 Cantle bird paintings is held in a private Melbourne collection. The works date from 1887 to 1918, but the majority were completed between 1887 and 1895.

Other paintings belong to descendants.

Third annual exhibition of the Art Society of NSW 1883: 'J.M. Cantle sends five pictures, in which the colouring is very crude. 194 [or 191?] “Hard Pressed” shows promise for the drawing is correct and distance good, and the story easily intelligble’ ( Sydney Morning Herald , 21 March 1883, p.11).

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Writers:
Kerr, Joan
Date written:
1996
Last updated:
2012

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References [<ExternalResource: 'NSW Marriage Records : 2778/1885'.>, <ExternalResource: 'NSW Birth Records : V1849770 34A/1849; 4823/1886; 8512/1887; 8511/1887; 25737/1890; 31655/1896'.>, <ExternalResource: 'NSW Death Records : 2685/1886; 10334/1919; 6243/1941; 12365/1941; 16827/1947; 2685/1886'.>, <ExternalResource: Cook, David (1986), 'Picture postcards in Australia 1898-1920', Lilydale, Vic : Pioneer Design Studio.>, <ExternalResource: (21 March 1883), Sydney Morning Herald, p.11.>, <ExternalResource: Information sourced from Deakin, Edwina.>, <ExternalResource: Information sourced from Callaway, Anita.>] [<ExternalResource: 'NSW Marriage Records : 2778/1885'.>, <ExternalResource: 'NSW Birth Records : V1849770 34A/1849; 4823/1886; 8512/1887; 8511/1887; 25737/1890; 31655/1896'.>, <ExternalResource: 'NSW Death Records : 2685/1886; 10334/1919; 6243/1941; 12365/1941; 16827/1947; 2685/1886'.>]