Flintoff John Basson Humffray 1859 {1891} SLV [DR]

Flintoff, Thomas (c.1809-91; English/Australian)
The Hon John Basson Humffray, First Commissioner of Mines – of Victoria 1859
Chalk, 67.0 x 62.0 cm
Presented by H.R.Humffray, 1891
State Library of Victoria (H325)

Although Humffray (1824-91) disassociated himself from the Eureka rebellion of 1854, he was a vocal advocate for miners’ rights in the period. In 1855, he became a member of parliament, and was minister for mines in 1860-61.

Inscribed as produced in Ballarat on August 10^th, 1859, this portrait was donated after Humffray’s death, by his son. It was shown in the Eureka exhibition at the Ballarat Fine Arts Gallery in 2004-5.

After arriving in Australia in 1856, Fintoff first worked in Ballarat, transferring to Melbourne in 1872: see linked artist entry for further details and references.

Refs.

AR 1891, p.430 (noting the donor as Humffray’s son); NGV 1894, p.126 and NGV 1905, p.150 (both V.Buvelot Gallery, south wall, no.1) 

For the 2004-5 Ballarat exhibition, refer SLV catalogue entry. For Humffray, see http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/humffray-john-basson-3818 (biography by Diane Langmore, published in ADB vol.4, 1972)