painter and professional photographer, was said to be 'favourably known as a landscape painter’ at Melbourne in April 1859 when he exhibited 'some interesting examples of colonial scenery’. Two paintings had been developed 'from sketches taken upon Mr. Henty’s extensive “run”’. The one depicting hills, creek and wattle grove ('in the far distance is the interminable “bush”’) was praised for its foreground trees 'of recognisable indigenous character’ and its warm and mellow late spring tones. The other, a view of an unnamed Henty homestead, gave 'a pleasant impression of the wealth and importance of our pastoral Crown tenants’ according to the Argus .
An even more exalted personage, Governor Sir Henry Barkly, had commissioned the view of Melbourne and the Bay from Government House included in Clarke’s exhibition. All three, especially the landscape, were said to fully sustain Clarke’s high reputation as 'a thorough master of his art’. Yet his name did not survive into the following century. Apart from this single newspaper reference and an undated watercolour of a flowering gum by one William Clarke (sold at auction in Melbourne for $50 in 1987) – which may not be his – Clarke is still forgotten. Even at the time he was probably less successful than the Argus implied and may have turned to photography. One 'William H. Clarke’ had a studio at 91 Bourke Street, Melbourne in 1861, while in 1866-71 the photographer William Clarke (or Clark) was at 142 Bridge Road, Richmond. In 1872 he was listed as both photographer and 'artist’ (painter) at the latter address.
'William Clarke’ was a painting student at the National Gallery of Victoria Schools in 1875-76 and 1879-80 and is listed as an artist in Sands in 1887-95 and 1897-99 (in 1899 as William Clark).
- Writers:
- Staff Writer
- Date written:
- 1992
- Last updated:
- 1989
