Tennyson Cole

Philip Tennyson Cole (1862–1939), generally referred to as "Tennyson Cole" was an English society portrait painter in both oils and watercolours, who first achieved fame in Australasia and South Africa.

History

As a young boy Cole received training in art from his father, who was himself a successful painter.[1] He may have been related to George Vicat Cole.[2]

Around the age of 19, he fell in love with Alice Mary Saintsbury, an actress, whom he married in 1885, supporting him financially.[3]

He sailed to Tasmania, arriving in the Doric in 1889.[4] During the voyage he painted his female companion, a fine contralto who called herself Madame Cole, and several fellow passengers. After a year's stay in Hobart, having completed a good many commissions to general acclaim, including a fine pair of portraits of the Governor and Lady Hamilton, which were presented to the Art Gallery of Tasmania,[5] he moved to Melbourne. In October 1892, while visiting New Zealand, he was charged in Auckland with deserting his wife in England some three years before.[6] He was ordered to pay his wife support of ₤1 per week.

He left Australia from Adelaide aboard the Ormus in September 1893. His erstwhile wife died in Sydney on 7 April 1894.[7] In In August 1895 the (yet to be inaugurated) Perth Art Gallery was donated his portrait of Sir George Grey.[8] In May 1896 he was working in South Africa. In 1900 he was touring the African interior.[9] The following year he was back in England and the Royal Academy had an exhibition which included his portrait of the Duke of Norfolk.[10] In 1902 commissions included Lord Milner and Cecil Rhodes. In 1908 he was granted a series of sittings by the King.[11] He spent part of the World War I years as a guest of an Indian Maharajah; he died in Tooting Bec hospital.[12]

Selected works

In Great Britain

Held in various public collections; listed at BBC – Your Paintings

South Africa

Australia

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 "A Painter's Reminiscences". Advertiser and Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 1 August 1931. p. 4. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  2. "Mr. Tennyson Cole". The Mercury. Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 29 November 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  3. "An Artist's Wives.". Table Talk. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 4 November 1892. p. 11. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  4. "Tasmanian News". Launceston Examiner. Tas.: National Library of Australia. 2 July 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  5. "The Governor Hamilton Memorial Fund". The Mercury. Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 21 May 1895. p. 3. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  6. "New Zealand". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 21 October 1892. p. 6. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  7. "Family Notices.". The Australasian. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 3 November 1894. p. 45. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  8. "News of the Week". Australian Town and Country Journal. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 17 August 1895. p. 15. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  9. "Anglo-Australian Notes". The Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 17 July 1901. p. 8. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  10. "The Royal Academy". The Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 15 June 1901. p. 9. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  11. "A Wonderful Portrait". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 30 March 1908. p. 9. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  12. "He Earned £60,000, Died Penniles". Northern Times. Carnarvon, WA: National Library of Australia. 12 April 1940. p. 5. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  13. "Tasmanian Art Gallery". The Mercury. Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 1 February 1890. p. 1 Supplement: The Mercury Supplement. Retrieved 25 October 2014.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/1/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.