A’Beckett (E.) Francis Henty {1892} SLV [PA]

A’Beckett, Edward (1844-1922; Australian)
Francis Henty (c.1890)
Oil on canvas, 59.2 x 49.5 cm, framed
Presented by Francis Henty’s daughters, 1892
State Library of Victoria (H24630)

The sitter (1815-89), known as Victoria’s second settler, followed his brother Edward to Portland from Launceston in 1834, and introduced merino sheep to Victoria.

A’Beckett was commissioned to paint this portrait by Henty’s family, probably from a photograph or print.

For Edward Henty, see Kemp Edward Henty 1880 {1880} SLV [PA].

Refs.

AR 1892, p.24; SB, p.397 (valued at £75); NGV 1894, p.121 (V.Buvelot Gallery, 6^th bay, no.11); NGV 1905, p.145 (V.Buvelot Gallery, 7^th bay, no.8) 

For this work, see SLV, The Art of the Collection (2007), p.36; the SLV catalogue notes that the frame is the work of Melbourne frame-maker Isaac Whitehead [c.1819-81], identified by a label on the verso. For the Henty family, see Marnie Bassett in ADB vol.1 (1966): http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/henty-francis-2249