david coombe history
SUMMARY: Lithogaphers John Penman, William Galbraith and James Campbell arrived in South Australia in December 1848. They didn't introduce lithography to South Australia but the printing technique took off with their impetus. A fair amount of that success was due to the artist S.T. Gill. In 1849 Gill published three sets of humorous lithographs called "Heads of the People", printed by Penman & Co. In all there were 22 profile portraits on five paper sheets. Each image carried a witty caption suggesting the subject's identity. This article places the "heads" series in context, together with other early lithographs of Gill-Penman collaboration.
Lithography is a form of printing in which an image is drawn on a prepared stone from which copies are then made.
Article type: NARRATIVE & CATALOGUE
In this article ...
The lithographers John Penman (c.1815/16-1900), William Galbraith (1822-1911) and James Stirling Campbell (c.1822/23-1855) arrived in Adelaide's port aboard Hooghly from Glasgow via London on 5 December 1848.1 At least two of the trio – Penman and Galbraith – had been working in London amid "railway mania" with its immense appetite for printed railway plans.2 Galbraith was exhausted from his "nine day" weeks. When the financial bubble deflated, his friend Penman lost his job. Looking to the Australian colonies for a new start, Penman came across newspaper editor John Stephens' pamphlet on South Australia and convinced his mate to join him. Galbraith later recalled:
The Hoogley sailed up the Port Adelaide Creek, and came alongside the wharf at Port Adelaide at 5 a.m., on December 5, 1848. I went ashore to see Capt. Hall, to whom I had a letter of introduction from my old employer in London. He received me very kindly, but at the same time gave me his blessing because I did not bring my working material with me. However, he handed me a letter of introduction to the editor of the newspaper The South Australian (Mr. Murray), in Adelaide. I saw, however, that Mr. Murray could do nothing for me, and I was passed on to several others, until ultimately I found myself conversing with Mr. George Hamilton ... Mr. Hamilton was a clerk in the Treasury ... was a clever amateur draftsman, and painted several pictures. He did a good deal of black-and-white sketching, and had dabbled a little in lithography. He could, however, make nothing of it, and was quite ready to sell to the first purchaser what printing material he had, so I bought it ... I had it removed to the premises we had taken in Grenfell street.3
The British railway mania bust had smashed opportunities for these makers of railway plans.
The Scots trio came without printing equipment but soon purchased from George Hamilton who couldn't progress much with his gear.
Bushmen watering horses in the desert of Australia | Dixson Library, State Library of New South Wales DL PX 133 / 5. This work (left) is from a collection of lithographs by the artist George Hamilton. Various works are captioned "Penman & Co." and later "Penman & Galbraith". Uncaptioned ones, such as this example, may be Hamilton's personal attempts at lithography before selling his equipment to Penman & Co.
Art, it must be noted, wasn't Penman & Co.'s focus. Their stated business was in "Maps, Plans, Architectural Designs, Circulars, Labels, Visiting and Business Cards, Bills of Lading, Bills of Exchange, Invoice Headings, &c."4 They immediately impressed with their capability.
We have been shewn some specimens of Lithography, executed by Messrs. Penman, Galbraith, and Campbell, who have lately arrived here from London; and certainly for design and execution we never before saw anything to surpass the skill displayed by these gentlemen. The accession of so much talent is decidedly an acquisition to the province, and will meet we doubt not with the patronage it deserves.5
What were these early efforts that so impressed? Probably not the simple line drawings of Hamilton.
What impressed may have been a topical and comical sketch by Gill that Penman & Co. immediately embraced. Together they published Harry Paine, the Register Newspaper's Runner (left and below).
The sketch was triggered by an unflattering reference to newspaper "runner" Harry Paine by his former employer James Allen on 4 December. Five days later Pain fired back at Allen.6 Penman & Co. hadn't been on dry land for a full week and so Gill's take on the clash was a quick attention getter for the lithographers. Significantly it marked a fresh career track in art multiples for Gill.
It possible that a set of twelve South Australian scenes (January 1849) may have also been proposed then by Gill to Penman & Co., although it's not known in a printed form.
What would soon follow, from May 1849, was a much larger collaboration between Gill and the lithographers in the shape of Heads of the People. From where did this idea sprout?
There were a couple of other artistic arrivals early in 1849.
Oil painter John Alexander Gilfillan (1793-1864), formerly "Professor of Painting in the Andersonian University of Glasgow", arrived from Sydney on 24 January 1849. He had already had a proxy presence in South Australia – John Bentham Neales (1806-1873) tried to sell his oil paintings in Adelaide from 1844.7 Gilfillan was helped in these ongoing sales efforts by a "near and dear" relative of his late wife: Andrew Murray proprietor of the South Australian newspaper.8 Gilfillan had lost his wife and three children in an attack by Maori in April 1847.8 After a brief stay in Sydney, he changed colonies.
Once in Adelaide, Gilfillan immediately advertised himself as a portrait and landscape painter9 and gave two lectures on the fine arts. He was immediately commissioned to do a large oil portrait of Neales (in gratitude for the latter building the Adelaide Exchange).10 He was clearly artistic competition for Gill.
An artist-printer arrived around February-March 1849.
A Card.
T. RIDER. Lithographer, Copperplate and Wood Engraver, Rundle-street, opposite the "Sir John Barleycorn." N.B.–Maps, Plans, and Charts copied with accuracy and neatness. Doorplates and letter stamps engraved in plain or ornamental letters. Refer to Mr. D. Fisher, Cornfactor, Rundle-street.11
Rider had been one of several artists for the humorous Sydney journal, Heads of the People, a "comic miscellany", each containing "a Head adorned by a tale" and portrait sketches of prominent people.12 The paper ran from April 1847 to March 1848.13 14 It likely was partly inspired by an English book, "Heads of the people, or, portraits of the English : selected from the crowd" (1840), excerpts from which were published in the colonial press.
Perhaps Rider further spurred the "heads" idea in South Australia. Little is known of his own artwork.
The first prominent South Australian "head" was a newspaper give-away.
The Colonial Argus newspaper gave their subscribers a lithograph "John Bentham Neales Esqr., No. 1 – Heads of the people" (left and below).
The paper had a fleeting six week existence from early April 1849,15 so it's reasonable to date this lithograph to March-May 1849. It was printed by Penman & Co. in Adelaide. The portrait is half length with a full face view. The artist is unidentified, but a newspaper reference (below) points to Gill.
The Colonial Argus production was seemingly a one-off – that paper folded on 21 May.15 Whatever happened next, it happened quickly. The "Heads of the People" idea didn't die with the newspaper and Gill began sketching heads of South Australia.
Meanhile Penman & Co. were pressing ahead with their main business and produced a map of the city.
NEW LITHOGRAPHED PLAN OF THE CITY.–We have just been favored with a beautifully executed plan of Adelaide, drawn by Messrs Eggers and Goodhugh, and lithographed by Penman and Co., which must prove very valuable–not merely to the newly-arrived, to which it is indispensable–but also to the offices of such persons as may have occasion to place their finger on any spot in the city at once. It is on the scale of eight inches to a mile, and shows the number of each acre, as well as the sizes of the various Government and public buildings. Its correctness and small price must ensure the extensive circulation it so justly merits.16
The following month Penman & Co. were ready to go with Gill's completed set of a dozen heads.
In all Gill would published three sets of Heads of the People in 1849, all printed by Penman & Co. The first set in May consisted of three sheets each with four heads, the second (July) and the third (August) issues were single sheets of five heads each. For a total of 22 heads.
With this fresh move into print Gill was promoted by his initials – S.T.G. – a mark that would carry through into his subsequent goldrush fame.
HEADS OF THE PEOPLE. PUBLISHED this day,17 the Heads of the People, by S. T. G., No. 1, containing twelve. Price, 3s; on proof paper, 5s. To be had at Platts's Library.18
The new publication was well received.
We have been favoured by Mr Gill with the first twelve of a series of heads of the people, drawn by him, and lithographed by Messrs. Penman and Co. Mr Gill is already favourably known to the public by his numerous and tasteful water-colour sketches of scenery in this colony, and of the various mines. In this new department he is certainly, in our opinion, destined to increase his reputation, as the sketches are executed with great spirit, and some of them are admirable likenesses. In a few the artist has ventured on a touch of satire, with a spice of caricature. It is possible this latter may not be intentional, and may be excused on the score of a first effort. We shall hope his next number, in this respect, will be an improvement, but we shall not venture to criticise too strongly, that he may not be provoked to retaliate in kind. The lithographers, we believe, are from the well known establishment of Messrs. McClure and McDonald, and it is only justice to say that their part of the performance reflects no discredit on the excellent school in which they were trained. We predict that the series will be highly successful, and will form a favourite article of exportation to friends "at home".19
For the South Australian's Andrew Murray, it seemed there was only one thing worse than being caricatured – and that's not being caricatured. The review notably observed Gill's "new department" – this was a career shift to prints as his major output.
James Allen's Adelaide Times was also praising of the artistic approach and the reference to the first four sheets (if accurate) suggests the Neales head was also by Gill.
"Heads of the People."–Under the above title, Mr. S. T. Gill, our favourite colonial artist, is producing a scries of lithographic prints, giving very fair likenesses of many of the leading colonists, with a slight reference to their peculiarities, but without descending so much to caricature as to make them offensive. Much as we admire Mr. Gill's water-colour descriptions, and much as we think him at home in that peculiar department, it would be unjust to say, that he has not equally succeeded in his present attempt; and if the continuation of the series is only equal to the first four sheets, he certainly deserves to be well supported by the South Australian public. Had the "Heads of the people" partaken of on attempt at gross caricature, they would hardly, in so small a community, have met with any general approval; but as the dry humour, which accompanies them, is a lambent flame playing around without scorching, we have the sincerest pleasure in recommending them, and that heartily, to the notice of our numerous readers. Nothing half so creditable, either to Mr. Gill or to his lithographers, Messrs. Penmann & Co., has ever before proceeded from this department of the colonial press.20
Another paper remarked similarly.
HEADS OF THE PEOPLE.–Twelve lithographic sketches of colonists–all pretty well known–have been published during the week. They are from the pencil of Mr Gill, and show that the ability of this artist is not confined to landscape drawing, but that it equally extends to a branch of art hitherto unexplored by him. These sketches are for the most part well done, one or two of them inimitable; and there is just that spice of quiet humour, bordering upon caricature, which redeems them from the dull monotony of staring portraits, without the slightest offence to the individuals introduced.21
Of course Adelaide had seen local caricature before, notably by Nathaniel Hailes under the pseudonym of Timothy Short for the 1841 illustrated newspaper Adelaide Independent and Cabinet of Amusement.
Adelaide Hammer Company. Going! Going! Gone! | State Library of South Australia B 15998/2. This 1841 lithographed sketch (left) is of auctioneer John Bentham Neales.22
This was a strong connection here. Penman partner Galbraith later recalled it was Hailes who wrote or suggested Gill's head captions.23
Eight weeks after the first series Gill followed up with a single sheet of another five heads.
Mr Gill, the artist, has produced another batch of five South Australian Heads of the People. They are cleverly got up, and, upon the whole, fair likenesses. A celebrated barrister skilled in weaving and unravelling the meshes of the law (although not a disciple of Izaak Walton) faces a Knight of the Hammer, who cannot rein in his witticisms, which drop as thick as hails. An architect and a stockholder, both striking likenesses, are also placed vis à vis; the fifth and central attraction being the bland and redoubtable mining millionaire, the great "O. G."24
After seven weeks another five heads popped up.
The clever artist must excuse us if we are reminded of the old pugilistic term "bunch of fives" by the periodical exhibition of his bunches of five Heads of the People. Personally, the bunch No. 3 can only require "a clear stage, and no favour" but, figuratively, some of the gentlemen have a right to complain. The two upper portraits are good; but any friend of the honourable, learned, and laborious gentlemen represented by the central and lower sketches, may surely point at either, and justly say "There is no flattery in that."25
Penman & Co. were only known as such for twelve months after which they became Penman & Galbraith following James Campbell's departure. Four months after arriving Campbell was fined for drunkeness26 and shortly after in June 1849 he left for Melbourne.27 (There he would later work with Gill again.)
Heads of the People was to be the first of many lithographic collaborations between Gill and Penman, Galbraith and Campbell (in various combinations) in both Adelaide and in Melbourne.
Heads of the People also marked a major career shift for S.T. Gill from watercolour to lithograph, from singles to multiples, from select admiration to broad appeal.
This article catalogues the heads in their original sheets. A couple of the sheets aren't in great condition, but better individual portraits can be got from the State Library of South Australia (SLSA) catalogue.
Gill's heads are all half length portraits in profile view, with the exception of "O.G." which is a three quarter view.
The State Library of South Australia (SLSA) and National Library of Australia (NLA) have heads catalogued with identifying names with varying degrees of confidence.
Six are named in 1906 in a letter from the publisher William Galbraith. In particular it confirms "reserve not met" as being Nathaniel Hailes and identifies him as a contributor of captions.
Now in regard to the mottoes attached to the heads they were all written or suggested by Nat Hailes (one of the series), a well-known auctioneer at that time in Hindley street. Each motto refers to some peculiarity or characteristic of the party represented, as for instance Kingston's shabby hat and the dismal appearance of old Bouch as he responds to the toast of sweethearts and wives; but, thereby hangs a tale I shall not now relate."28
Correspondents to The Register newspaper between May and July 1922 contributed to identifying many of the heads. (These references are noted in the list of works below. The 1922 articles may be found in NLA's Trove Newspapers.)
To see these works, with accompanying notes, just scroll down or jump to the List of Works.
Baker, William. Heads of the people : an illustrated journal of literature, whims, and oddities 1847 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-722006765> (Digitised).
1. South Australian Register, 6 December 1848: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48726506>
2. South Australian Register, 13 October 1900: 7. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54536520>
3. The Register, 17 February 1911: 6. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58606485>
4. Dehane, G. Dehane's Almanack for 1849. Adelaide: G. Dehane. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2900146270>
5. South Australian Register, 20 December 1848: 4. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48728762>
6. Adelaide Times, 4 December 1848: 2. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206980068> and South Australian Register, 9 December 1848: 1. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48727453>
7. Southern Australian, 16 January 1844: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71628046>
8. South Australian, 9 July 1847: 4. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71608765>
9. South Australian Gazette and Mining Journal, 17 February 1849: 1. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195937153>
10. South Australian, 23 March 1849: 2. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71623353>
11. South Australian, 6 March 1849: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71623222>
12. The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 March 1847: 1. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12896827> and The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 April 1847: 1. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12893406>
13. Baker, William. Heads of the people : an illustrated journal of literature, whims, and oddities 1847 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-722006765> – digitised.
14. Heads of the People, Vol. 1 No. 20 (August 28, 1847)
15. South Australian, 3 July 1849: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71624112>
16. South Australian Gazette and Mining Journal, 14 April 1849: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195937484>
17. The publication date was variously given as 16 or 24 May in advertisements that began on 25 May.
18. South Australian Register, 26 May 1849: 2. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50245741>
19. South Australian 25 May 1849: 2. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71623775>
20. Adelaide Times, 28 May 1849: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206980724>
21. South Australian Gazette and Mining Journal, 31 May 1849: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195937795>
22. This sketch appears in Adelaide Independent and Cabinet of Amusement, 4 November 1841: 5. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page26849781> and its location can be confirmed by text on the previous page referring to "Nota Bene" being a reference to Neales Bentham <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245310144%gt; this being his adopted name. (H. J. Finnis, 'Neales, John Bentham (1806-1873)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, <https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/neales-john-bentham-2503/text3379>)
23. Observer, 31 March 1906: 26. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163066423>
24. South Australian Register, 18 July 1849: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50247976>
25. South Australian Register, 1 September 1849: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50246499>
26. Adelaide Observer, 7 April 1849: 4. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158927384>
27. South Australian, 26 June 1849: 2. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71624057>
28. Observer, 31 March 1906: 26. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page19064732>
You can scroll down to see all pictures along with detailed notes or click a link to jump to a specific work from the list.
Detailed notes each include a link to the map location for the view (where available).
[Man on horseback and chained dog] | Dixson Library, State Library of New South Wales DL PXX 86 f.36
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1848-12~/1849-04~ | Appleyard cat. n/a
Catalogue: S.T. Gill, Penman & Co., Heads of the People
It is signed "STG" and inscribed on stone: "Penman & Co., Lith., Adelaide". The subject of Harry Paine was topical in December 1848 – the month of Penman & Co's arrival – suggesting this may be their earliest artistic lithograph.
The image is also included in a Samuel Calvert lithograph (SLNSW-DL DL PXX 86/46) and copied in SLSA B 5964.
"Daily there is seen at the door of the Register and Observer office, in Hindley-street, directly opposite the principal business locality, a cream-coloured Timor pony, worn down with age, worn out with work, and literally worn BARE with the saddle! Not unfrequently the old biped who rides this once noble little quadruped most abominably ill-treats the impotent, but still willing animal ..." Adelaide Times, 4 December 1848: 2. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206980068>
"MR JAMES ALLEN, - Sir. - Having seen in your vulgar advertisement the pretended proposal of a subscription to raise another pony in lieu of one (ridden by an old biped) worn down with age, worn out with work, and worn bare with the saddle, I cannot as an old British tar, let it pass in silence. No, Sir; as you have fired into me, I am not going to sheer off without returning a whole broadside. If my pony is "worn down with age, and worn bare with the saddle," let me ask you, Mr Allen, Who was it that wore down the old biped with 2s 8d. per day when carrying into the country his broad-sheet, and carrying his every-day threepenny Grub-street rag ..." South Australian Register, 9 December 1848: 1. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48727453>
380
Trinity Church, Adelaide | Dixson Library, State Library of New South Wales DL PXX 86 f.35
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1848-12~/1849-04~ | Appleyard cat. n/a
Catalogue: S.T. Gill, Penman & Co., Heads of the People
A view of Trinity Church. The view is to the southeast, with North Terrace to the left and Morphett Street away to the right. Compare with Gill's earlier NLA NK2038/21 (and AGSA 0.648).
Inscribed, hand written, on stone: the title and "Penman & Co. Lith., Adelaide".
The date of this is undetermined but probably precedes "Heads of the People".
This was reproduced by Galbraith and Son in "14 Views of Old Adelaide" (c. 1886). See SLSA https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+9483/2 and SLV https://viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=IE4841637&file=FL17237879&mode=browse.
Map | S. T. Gill - Adelaide
339
John Bentham Neales Esqr. / No. 1 Heads of the People | Dixson Library, State Library of New South Wales DL PXX 86 f.38
Artist: Gill, S.T. (attr.) | Date: 1849-03/1849-05~
Catalogue: S.T. Gill, Penman & Co., Heads of the People
Inscribed: John Bentham Neales Esqr. / No. 1 Heads of the People. / Presented gratis to subscribers by the Colonial Argus, office King William St., Adelaide. / Printed by Penman & Co. Adelaide.
The portrait is half length with a full face view. This lithograph dates to March-April 1849.
The portrait isn't signed. So who is the artist? There are several possibilities.
On 23 March 1849 J.B. Neales was reported as having commenced sitting for a large oil portrait by J.A. Gilfillan. Gilfillan was formerly "Professor of Painting in the Andersonian University of Glasgow". His interest and practice suggest he may have been less inclined in doing a lithograph.
Lithographer and engraver T. Rider had just arrived in Adelaide from Sydney where he had worked on the humorous journal, Heads of the People. However this sketch is of a much higher standard than the Heads attributed to him. Rider may have prompted the Adelaide Heads, but it's much less certain he was the artist.
E.A. Opie was in Adelaide at this time but he was generally a landscape artist. (He once did an oil portrait of George Coppin.)
E.L. Montefiore's album (SLNSW DL PXX 60) has many contemporary portrait sketches including f.12a (signed "EM" and dated 24 Sep 1848) and f.30a (unsigned, undated). The latter shows a similar quality and style to this portrait, however the artist is unidentified and the album also contains works by S.T. Gill and Conrad Martens.
Samuel Calvert was then in Adelaide and would later lithograph views and caricatures.
However the most likely artist is Gill. James Allen's reference to the first four sheets (if accurate) suggests the Neales head was also by Gill (Adelaide Times, 28 May 1849: 3).
381
Heads of the People (first set) | State Library of South Australia B 46875
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1849-05 | Appleyard cat. n/a
Catalogue: S.T. Gill, Penman & Co., Heads of the People
The title here is taken from the newspaper advertisement.
The captions and identities are listed clockwise from top left.
Caption: Acting Purveyor General
Identity: George Selth Coppin
Coppin was both actor and purveyor. At the time he was licensee of the Auction Mart Tavern (later known as the Royal Exchange Hotel), Hindley Street. This hotel appears in several Gill works. Identified in newspapers (19 & 30 May 1922). Incorrectly identified as surveyor general Frome in newspaper (21 April 1906).
Caption: ex "Dorset"
Identity: Emanuel Solomon
Emanuel Solomon, with brother Judah Moss Solomon, merchants, owned and regularly ran the trader "Dorset" to and from Sydney. This trade was the subject of a customs legal case in October 1847 and August 1848. Under the heading "Ex Dorset", Emanuel advertised cargo for sale from his premises in Rundle Street. One such advertisement of interest to Gill would have been an "extensive sale of stationery" on 8 September 1845 including sketch books, Ackerman's colours, Reeve's liquid colours, drawing pencils and artists' cases. Identified in newspaper (31 March 1906).
Caption: Gentleman in the Bush
Identity: Boulter Gabriel Raye / "Beardy" Raye
Identified in newspapers (21 April 1906; 13, 19 & 30 May 1922).
Caption: Stocks at par
Identity: Samuel Stocks, junior
Stocks was a director and shareholder of the South Australian Mining Association. Identified in newspaper (19 May 1922).
319
Heads of the People (sheet 2) | State Library of South Australia B 71544
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1849-05 | Appleyard cat. n/a
Catalogue: S.T. Gill, Penman & Co., Heads of the People
The captions and identities are listed clockwise from top left.
Caption: his Mark
Identity: Montague Fetherstonhaugh
Identified as (or perhaps autographed by) Montague Fetherstonhaugh at some early time on the lithograph. Also identified in the newspapers (13, 19 & 30 May, 24 July 1922). Montague Fetherstonhaugh was a director of the South Australian Mining Association. Not to be confused with Michael Fetherston who was an inaugural SAMA director. He was listed as Montague Featherston, a passenger on the schooner Favorite which was lost at sea in May 1852 sailing from Melbourne to Sydney. (See <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49296559>.) The reference to "his mark" is opaque.
Caption: The Response: Sweethearts and Wives
Identity: Joseph Bouch
A court case in April 1849 involved "a single woman living with Mr Bouch". In May 1849 there was news of "amatory correspondence between Mrs Bouch (who eloped some time ago from this city) and a Catholic Priest". Identified in the newspaper (19 May 1922).
Caption: Bearing Bank Interest
Identity: George Morphett
George Morphett was a director of the South Australian Banking Co. Identified in the newspapers (21 April 1906, 19 May 1922).
Caption: Father Mathew after a pledge
Identity: Matthew Smith?
Matthew Smith was a solicitor and barrister, Gawler Place. Smith, Emanuel Solomon and George Coppin were all directors of the Port Lincoln Mining Company. Identified in the newspapers (19 May 1922). SLSA B-346 catalogue suggests the side reference is to Father Mathew, a contemporary "Irish temperance reformer". The "pledge" reference is opaque. It may refer to his insisted "right of selection under an old 80-acre land grant". See South Australian, 5 June 1849: 2. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71623865>. This identification is less certain than others.
320
Heads of the People (sheet 3) | State Library of South Australia B 71555
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1849-05 | Appleyard cat. n/a
Catalogue: S.T. Gill, Penman & Co., Heads of the People
The four heads - captions and identities - are listed (clockwise from top left). Identities are from SLSA's catalogue.
Caption: TODling after a commission
Identity: Robert Tod
Tod was a sharebroker. In March 1849 he was mentioned in a court case selling Burra mining shares on commission. Identified in the newspapers (21 April 1906, 19 May 1922).
Caption: Wanted: A Directory
Identity: James Allen
James Allen was a newspaper proprietor and compiler of statistics and directories. For more see: S.T. Gill and James Allen, 1845 . Incorrectly identified in the newspaper as Joseph Johnson (19 May 1922).
Caption: Rail not again
Identity: Edward Lindley Grundy
Grundy was a sharebroker and the preliminary secretary of the South Australian Colonial Railway, one of three companies competing to develop a City-Port railway. Identified in the newspaper (19 May 1922).
Caption: Smelts O!
Identity: John Brown
Brown was a director of the South Australian Mining Association. Identified in newspaper (21 April 1906, 19 May 1922).
321
Have you any Port Lincones for Sale? | Dixson Library, State Library of New South Wales DL PXX 60 f.19
Artist: Gill, S.T. (attr.) | Date: 1848-05/1849~
Catalogue: S.T. Gill, Penman & Co., Heads of the People
A three quarter length portrait with profile view. The title caption is in reference to shares in the Port Lincoln Mining Company which was formed in May 1848.
Based on the caption, umbrella, prominent nose, sideburns, collar and coat, this sketch is likely to be sharebroker Robert Tod, featured in "Heads of the People by S.T.G. No. 1 (sheet 3)".
The sketch is in E.L. Montefiore's album (SLNSW DL PXX 60) which contains works by Montefiore and other artists, including S.T. Gill. It is probably by Gill.
588
No. 2 - Heads of the People by S.T.G. | Dixson Library, State Library of New South Wales DL PXX 86 f.34
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1849-07 | Appleyard cat. 110
Catalogue: S.T. Gill, Penman & Co., Heads of the People
Sheet headed: No. 2 – Heads of the People by S.T.G. / Printed by Penman & Co., Adelaide.
"O.G." is the only three-quarter, not full, profile in the three series.
Clues to these identities were given in the South Australian Register, 18 July 1849.
The heads (from top to bottom, left to right):
Caption: All fish or that comes to net.
Identity: James Hurtle Fisher.
"A celebrated barrister skilled in weaving and unravelling the meshes of the law (although not a disciple of Izaak Walton)." (18 July 1849). Identified in the newspapers (31 March 1906, 19 May 1922).
Caption: Without reserve.
Identity: Nathaniel Hailes.
"A Knight of the Hammer, who cannot rein in his witticisms, which drop as thick as hails" (18 July 1849). Hailes was an auctioneer. Identified in the newspaper (31 March 1906). Publisher William Galbraith, in a letter published in the newspaper in 1906, confirmed the Hailes image and that he contributed to the witty captions. [Incorrectly identified as John Bentham Neales (NLA nla.obj-133109272).]
Caption: Nothing like O.G.
Identity: Osmond Gilles.
"The bland and redoubtable mining millionaire, the great 'O. G.'" (18 July 1849). Identified in the newspaper (19 May 1922).
Caption: This comes hopping &c. vide housemaid's letter.
Identity: John Ewart, alias "Hopping Jack"
Idenitfied as a "stockholder" (18 July 1849). Identified in the newspapers as John Ewart (19 May corrected 3 June 1922), Hewitt (30 May 1922), John Peter Charles Ewart known as "Hopping Jack" (19 June 1922). The "housemaid's letter" reference is opaque.
Caption: Poor exile of Erin.
Identity: George Strickland Kingston.
Idenitfied as an "architect" (18 July 1849). Also identified in newspaper (31 March 1906).
322
No. 3 Heads of the People by S.T.G. | National Library of Australia S651-S655
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1849-08 | Appleyard cat. n/a
Catalogue: S.T. Gill, Penman & Co., Heads of the People
Sheet headed: No. 3 Heads of the People by S.T.G. / Printed by Penman & Co., Adelaide
The heads (from top to bottom, left to right):
Caption: Throw physic to the dogs
Identity: William Paxton, druggist
Identified in newspaper (19, 30 May 1922). William Paxton was a partner in the Adelaide Smelting Company. See also SLSA B 334.
Compare with 1808 satirical print "Doctor Gallipot placing his fortune at the feet of his mistress - 'Thro Physic to the Dogs'" <https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/28154/>
Caption: True Blue
Identity: Captain John Finnis
Identified in newspaper (19 May 1922). See also SLSA B 343.
Caption: The noun Legislator - nominative case
Identity: Charles Hervey Bagot
Identified in newspapers (31 March 1906, 19 May 1922). See also SLSA B 329.
Caption: Known by his deeds
Identity: Richard Davies Hanson
Identified in newspapers (31 March 1906, 19 May 1922). See also SLSA B 330.
Caption: A laborious officer
Identity: Samuel Stocks, senior
Identified in newspapers (19 May 1922). See also SLSA B 348.
328
David Coombe. Original March 2022. Updated 6 September 2023. Formatted %2C 7 March 2024. | text copyright (except where indicated)
CITE THIS: David Coombe, 2022-2023, S.T. Gill, Penman & Co., Heads of the People, accessed dd mmm yyyy, <https://coombe.id.au/S_T_Gill/S_T_Gill,_Penman_and_Co,_Heads_of_the_People.htm>