Dowling Sir Henry Brougham Loch 1886 {1890} SLV [PA]

Dowling, Robert (1827-86; English/Australian)
Sir Henry Brougham Loch 1886
Oil on canvas, 127.0 x 89.0 cm (sight), framed
Presented by Lord Loch, 1890
State Library of Victoria (H141879)

This portrait of Loch (1827-1900), governor of Victoria 1884-89, was painted during Dowling’s second Australian sojourn, late in life (1884-86). Although dated 1886, it must have been largely complete when it was included in an exhibition of Dowling’s work in Launceston in March 1885. It was then shown in London in 1886.

Brenda Niall cites letters from Lady Loch reporting that the work did not do her husband justice, and that he also disliked it. For Loch, see also May “Loch and Key” 1888 {1903} NGV [DR]. There is also a portrait of him in the “Oval portrait” series (no.10).

Refs.

AR 1890, p.47; NGV 1894, p.121 (V.Buvelot Gallery, 6^th bay, no.12); NGV 1905, p.149 (V.Buvelot Gallery, 8^th bay, no.12) 

For the details here, see SLV online catalogue entry and SLV, The Art of the Collection (2007), pp.42-44 and 153, n.10 (Brenda Niall), citing Lady Loch’s letters; see also Jones Robert Dowling (2010), p.165