State Library of South Australia

Robert Kay memorial plaque [B 73608/R] • Photograph

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Summary

A photograph of a relief of Robert Kay, who was Chief Executive Officer of the South Australian Institute and Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery of South Australia 1859-1904. The photograph has faded, and the label on the back reads: "By special appointment to His Excellency the Governor. From E.A. Hunt, gilder, picture framer, and mount cutter from Artistic Framing Works, 30 Gawler Place, Adelaide". The original memorial plaque was created by Harry Pelling Gill (1855-1916), director of the School of Design, South Australian Institute, and the likeness may have been created as a plaster medallion after a model wax bust was first made. The plaque features a portrait of Robert Kay, seen in three-quarter view, wearing a coat and bow tie. The decorative border features leaves in an Art Nouveau style. The inscription reads at the top: 'Loyal and True', and in a scroll underneath the portrait: 'Robert Kay. Chief Executive Officer of the South Australian Institute and (subsequently) Public Library, Museum, and Art Gallery of South Australia from 1st June 1859 until his death 24th April 1904.' The memorial plaque featured in an exhibition held at the Art Gallery of South Australia on 1 June 1909, which included Specimens of the Assay Offices such as dies for printing tokens, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the appointment of the late Robert Kay as secretary of the South Australian Institute. The memorial plaque was intended to hang in the library.

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Physical description

1 photograph : black and white ; 14.3 cm x 9.8 cm, on mount 26.9 cm x 21.9 cm

Dates / Publication details

Approximately 1907

Collection

Part of Portrait Collection

Subject

Kay, Robert, 1825-1904
South Australian Institute
Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery of South Australia
Librarians -- South Australia

Catalogue record

Return to catalogue

Historical information

Robert Kay was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne on 19 June, 1825, and emigrated to Australia, arriving in Port Adelaide aboard the ship 'Ascendant' in January 1851. Upon arriving in Adelaide, Kay worked as an assayer and took part in rolling gold plates and striking tokens in 1852 in order to prevent financial panic during the rush to the goldfields in Victoria and counter the loss of sovereigns from South Australia. In 1857 Robert Kay was appointed as Secretary to the Board of Governors of the South Australian Institute, later the General Director, Secretary, and Treasurer, where he worked for over 45 years, encouraging the development of literature and art in Adelaide. He died at his home on 24 April 1904 at the age of 78.

Digitisation information

Date

03/03/2014

Format

image/tiff

Resolution

4,038 x 5,785 pixels (23.4 MP)

Size

70.10 MB

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