State Library of South Australia

Charles Flaxman [B 76987] • Artwork

Portrait of Charles Flaxman.

Clarke, Daniel, 1872, Artwork, B 76987POST

The painting as it was originally painted by Daniel Clarke in 1872, revealed after conservation work.

Portrait of Charles Flaxman.

Clarke, Daniel, 1872, Artwork, B 76987POST

The painting as it was originally painted by Daniel Clarke in 1872, revealed after conservation work.

Portrait of Charles Flaxman.

Clarke, Daniel, 1872, Artwork, B 76987PRE

The painting altered in the 1960s through overpainting, as acquired by the Library.

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Summary

Portrait of an early South Australian settler, Charles Flaxman. The oil painting is mounted in an ornate guilded frame, and is a pair with a portrait of his wife, Jane Flaxman (B 76988).

Restrictions

This collection has no known copyright restrictions.

Please refer to the State Library's Conditions of use.

Learn more about copyright and our collection.

Physical description

1 painting : oil paint on canvas ; 50.5 x 63 cm (image), 70 x 83 x 6.5 cm (frame)

Dates / Publication details

1872

Artist

Clarke, Daniel

Collections

Part of Portrait Collection
Part of Artwork Collection

Subject

Flaxman, Charles, 1806-1869
Portraits, Australian 19th century

Catalogue record

Return to catalogue

General notes

In 2022 Artlab Australia was commissioned to stabilise the work. Removing it from its frame revealed handwriting on the back 'D. Clarke, W'bool, 1872', i.e., photographer and painter Daniel Clarke, 1827-1918, of Warrnambool, Victoria. Test cleaning and infra-red imaging determined that the work had been significantly altered by over-painting in the 1960s. In conjunction with the donor family, the State Library authorised the painting conservators to remove the 1960s layer to reveal Clarke's original painting. It was also determined that Clarke had created the portrait by over-painting a photograph, a common practice in the era. See Items listed below and links to images of both the original painting and the altered 1960 over-painting.

Historical information

Flaxman arrived in Adelaide in 1838 as agent for George Fife Angas, and accompanying a group of German religious migrants. He accompanied Colonel William Light in his explorations which led to the discovery of the Barossa Valley, and subsequently organised to take up most of the acreage on Angas' behalf. Poor management on the part of his business partner, Rowlands, lost him his share of the land, and in 1849 he moved his family to Victoria where he later took up the position of Comptroller of Savings Banks and secretary to the Commissioners of Savings Banks. He died in 1869.

Additional notes

B 76987POST: The painting as it was originally painted by Daniel Clarke in 1872, revealed after conservation work.
B 76987PRE: The painting altered in the 1960s through overpainting, as acquired by the Library.

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Charles Flaxman [B 76987] • Artwork

Portrait of Charles Flaxman.

Portrait of Charles Flaxman.