Summers (Charles) John Pascoe Fawkner 1856 {1871} SLV [SC]

Summers, Charles (1825-78; English)
John Pascoe Fawkner 1856
Plaster, 80 x 50 x 18 cm
Donated anonymously, 1871
State Library of Victoria

Fawkner (1792-1869), a rival with John Batman for the title of founder of Melbourne, was an influential newspaper proprietor and member of parliament. This plaster bust, signed and dated, was the earliest work by Summers in the pre-Felton Melbourne collection.

Ann Galbally (in The First Collections catalogue, 1992) notes that this bust was shown in the “Victorian Exhibition of Art” at the Exhibition Buildings in December 1856, together with Summers (Charles) John Pascoe Fawkner 1864 {1871} SLV [SC], a smaller bust, in marble.

Refs.

AR 1871, p.42; NGV 1894, p.135 (VII.Cast Gallery, no.13: probably this work, although the artist’s name is not given); not listed in NGV 1905

SLV catalogue (details as shown here; not illustrated). See also Galbally First Collections (1992), cat.no.71