painter and stage designer, was born and bred in the United Kingdom. He painted many backdrops as a theatre assistant under William Beverly at Drury Lane, London, and exhibited paintings at the Royal Academy and with the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colors. He came to Australia under contract to the Brough-Boucicault Comedy Company in 1886 and stayed for eleven years.
With his friend Tom Roberts , Spong painted the backdrop of Comedy Banishing Melancholy for the opening of the Company’s second Bijou Theatre at Melbourne in 1890: Roberts painted the figures and Spong did the trompe l’oeil lace background. It cost £350, yet was used for two years only. Roberts, Arthur Streeton and Frederick McCubbin were guest scene painters at the Bijou Theatre in Christmas 1891, painting the scenery for Much Ado About Nothing with the company’s chief scene painter, Spong.
While still working as a theatrical manager, Spong was a foundation member of the breakaway Australian Artists’ Association (Melbourne) in 1885 along with Roberts, McCubbin et al. He exhibited regularly with the conservative VAS (“Vics”) and was a member of its watercolour hanging committee with Arthur Loureiro and George R. Ashton . In 1889 he exhibited Street Scene in Sydney with the Art Society of NSW, evidently his watercolour now in the Dixson Galleries entitled Old George Street Markets, York Street 1889. He also showed work in the Art Society’s 1890 and 1894 exhibitions. The AGNSW purchased one of his Egyptian watercolours in 1890. Five watercolours were shown with the new Society of Artists in 1896 and his absence was regretted the following year when he was en route to England.
Spong left Australia in 1897, spent some time with Streeton in Cairo then settled in London, where he became a successful painter and stage designer. He was a member of the London {and/or Melbourne?} Savage Club. His daughter, Hilda Spong, was a well-known actress: her watercolour portrait by Julian Ashton shown with the Vics (VAS) in October 1890, cat. 46, was sold at Sotheby’s in April 1997 (cat.407). Roberts also painted her. In April 1996 Christie’s was offering five watercolours by Spong, all overseas views. Eight English and Continental watercolours purchased in England from a relative of Robert Brough were sold at Christie’s auction on 27 November 1996 (part 2, lot 383), including one of Norfolk dated 1904 and one of Hambledon Common in Sussex dated May 1911. Sotheby’s Fine Australian Paintings , Melbourne 28-29 April 1997, had 25 watercolours by Spong, including three untitled Egyptian market scenes (lots 402-406, ill.) and views in England, New York ( Flat Iron Building ), Sorrento, Capri and other places. Lot 354 of Sotheby’s Fine Australian and European Paintings , Melbourne 25-26 August 1997, comprised three buildings by Spong, lot 402 three views.
- Writers:
- Staff Writer
- Date written:
- 1999
- Last updated:
- 2011
