William C. Bass

Also known as W. C. Bass
  • Artist (Draughtsman),
  • Artist (Painter)
Working Tasmania in 1855, William Bass specialised in portraiture advertising that he was happy to visit sitters in their own homes.
You are viewing the version of bio from July 14, 2011, 7:52 a.m. (moderator approved).
Revert to this revision Go to current record
We know of no events that included William C. Bass. You can help by linking one here.

Difference between this version and previous

Field Changes
Biography <p>portraitist and sketcher, worked in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1855. He advertised in the <i>_Mercury</i>_ on 22, 24 and 26 January 1855 and in the <i>_Hobart Town Courier</i>_ on 22 February 1855 that he had begun taking portraits in French crayons (pastels) and that 'Parties who desire it can be attended at their own residences' by leaving their address at his studio on the corner of Campbell and Brisbane streets. The following notice, under the heading 'Fine Arts', also appeared in the <i>_Mercury</i>_ on 22 January 1855: 'We have a recent addition to the artistic corps in the person of Mr Bass whose portraits in French crayons exhibit a very pleasing style of portraiture'.</p> <p>

Thomas Bass, an auctioneer at Adelaide in 1853-55 who had come to Hobart Town for the health of his family, applied for a Tasmanian auctioneer's licence on 21 February 1855. In August he requested that the licence include his brother William who had been working with him since the licence had been granted in March. Possibly this William Bass was the artist. There is no record of the second licence being granted and no other Tasmanian references have been found. However, a watercolour titled <i>_The Blue Mountains near Wollongong, New South Wales</i>_ is signed 'W.C. Bass' (NLA); the date is illegible (18?9).</p>