Gladstone Eyre

{{Infobox person

| name = Gladstone Eyre

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| birthname = William James Gladstone Eyre

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1862|06|11}}

| birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1933|5|2|1862|06|11}}

| death_place = North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

| education =

| occupation = Artist

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| family =

| parents = William Eyre, and Amelia Watts

| spouse = {{marriage|Margaret Ross Falconer|1883|}}

| children = Winifred (b. 1884), Julian William (b. 1888, d. 1889), Everett (b. 1892)

| relatives =

| citizenship =

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Gladstone Eyre (11 June 1862 – 2 May 1933) was an Australian portrait artist and landscape painter around Sydney, New South Wales and Launceston, Tasmania in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.{{cite web |title=Gladstone Eyre b. 11 July 1862 |url=https://www.daao.org.au/bio/gladstone-eyre/biography/ |website=Design and Art Australia Online |access-date=2 October 2021 |date=15 March 2013}}

Early life

William James Gladstone Eyre was born on 11 June 1862 in Brunswick, Victoria, the child of William Eyre and Amelia née Watts. The other siblings were Arthur Willesley Eyre (born 1856), Alice Augusta H. C. Eyre (born 1858), Samuel Morton Pets Eyre (born 1860), Charles Pelham Villiers Eyre (born 1864), Henry John Temple Eyre (born 1864), Mary Amelia Victoria Felicia Eyre (born 1865), Josephine Fanny Eyre (born 1867), Frances Burdett Coutts Eyre (b./d. 1868), and Frederick Constantine Grosvenor Eyre (born 1869, died 1870).{{cite web |title=Family history search |url=https://my.rio.bdm.vic.gov.au/ |website=Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria |publisher=State of Victoria |access-date=2 October 2021}}

His eldest brother Arthur went to Scotch College, Melbourne in 1868, where Dutch–Australian painter Henry Leonardus van den Houten (1801–1879) taught. Eyre was taught elementary drawing by van den Houten.

In 1877 the family moved to Sydney, and Eyre studied under Norwegian painter Knud Bull (1811–1889). Eyre's father was a land developer and later established the Blue Mountains township of Leura, the area of interest becoming of interest to Eyre.

Aged twenty, Eyre married Margaret Ross Falconer, of Balmain, on 26 June 1883 at Saint James' Church, Sydney.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162026939 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser |volume=XXXVI |issue=1200 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=7 July 1883 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=41 |via=National Library of Australia}}

They had three children. A daughter, Winifred Margaret was born 10 April 1884, when they lived at Eleanor Villa, Snail's Bay, Balmain.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13570032 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=14,378 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=26 April 1884 |access-date=3 October 2021 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} Their infant son Julian William Eyre died aged 1 year and 5 months on 22 November 1889, when they lived at Bellagie, Hunter's Hill.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13750726 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=16,121 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=25 November 1889 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} They had been living at their Bella Vista residence in {{not a typo|Snails Bay}}.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28341911 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=15,709 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=28 July 1888 |access-date=3 October 2021 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} Their third child was a son, Everett (given as John Everett Millais Eyre), born in Launceston in March 1892.

Career

In 1883 Eyre became a member of the Art Society of New South Wales (and again in 1904 when returning to the State), and through the 1880s, he established himself as a portrait painter. He operated a studio at the Pastoral Chambers, at 375 George Street.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28369777 |title=Advertising |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=14,487 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=1 September 1884 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} Others' paintings were advertised and sold commercially including in 1884, J. M. W. Turner's renowned 1831 Caligula's Palace and Bridge.{{efn|name=Caligula1|'Caligula's palace' had been in Melbourne in December 1882, but was unable to be sold, the price set at £4000.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201185236 |title=Colonial news |newspaper=The Tasmanian |volume=XI |issue=49 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=9 December 1882 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=1362 |via=National Library of Australia}} }}{{efn|name=Caligula2|Whilst 'Caligula's palace and bridge' was advertised by purchase by Eyre in 1884, Turner's painting is currently in the Tate Britain and 'Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856'. It is unknown when this work was returned to Great Britain to become part of the bequest.}}

Eyre moved to Launceston in 1891 with his wife and family where his paintings were displayed in a shop front of a local photographer.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39460672 |title=A new picture. |newspaper=Launceston Examiner |volume=LII |issue=79 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=22 March 1892 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} His Tasmanian landscapes were in oils, crayon, and watercolours. Eyre went onto teach evening classes, and undertaking the restoration of old paintings. He donated at least one painting for charitable purposes, including in 1900 of a portrait of Lord Roberts for the Indian famine relief fund,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article83082310 |title=Mosty up north. |newspaper=The Clipper |volume=8 |issue=367 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=28 April 1900 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}} as well as regularly selling his works.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article233014440 |title=Apt and Artists. |newspaper=The Federalist |volume=1 |issue=22 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=3 December 1898 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} In April 1899, he travelled to Sydney to sell a collection of his paintings, mostly Tasmanian scenery.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113274249 |title=Paintings of Tasmania |newspaper=The Evening News (Sydney) |issue=9941 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=18 April 1899 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}

In 1902, aged 39, Eyre and his family moved back to Sydney in 1902. It was indicated the then-Australia Hotel in Sydney contained a number of very fine paintings of Australian scenes including eight watercolours by Eyre.{{cite book|publisher=F. R. Strange Pty. Ltd. |title=Auction Catalogue |date=July 1971 |pages=24, 28, 50}}

Later life

His daughter Winifred became involved in stage productions in Launceston in the late 1890s. Eyre also recited and sung at these productions, and painted the background sceneries. Winifred later married Oswald Augustus Nelson in North Sydney on 4 August 1906.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237633448 |title=Family notices |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) |issue=8502 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=1 September 1906 |access-date=3 October 2021 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}

His son Everett married Mary Daly, had a daughter Joyce, but died aged 36, on 7 January 1929 in Sydney, when the family was living at 1 Chandos Street, Saint Leonards.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16522041 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=28,396 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=8 January 1929 |access-date=3 October 2021 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}} He was buried at the Church of England Cemetery, Northern Suburbs, Sydney.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16522061 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=28,396 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=8 January 1929 |access-date=3 October 2021 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Eyre resided at 56 Middle Street, McMahon's Point, North Sydney until his death in 1933. Suffering from insomnia for some time, he left his home early on Monday morning, but was found floating at Athol Bight near the zooloogical gardens on Tuesday, 2 May 1933.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16958578 |title=Body found in harbour. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=29,744 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=3 May 1933 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=18 |via=National Library of Australia}} He was privately interred at the Northern Suburbs Cemetery.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16965338 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=29,747 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=6 May 1933 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Works

A sample of some of Eyre's portraits, and landscapes.

= Portraits =

W. Saurin Lyster (1828–1880), impresario (1881). Commissioned by vocalist Armes Beaumont.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204051278 |title=News of the day. |newspaper=The Age |issue=8,138 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=15 March 1881 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}
John Tait (1813–1888), racehorse owner (1883), life-size.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137585733 |title=Turf Gossip. |newspaper=The Australasian |volume=XXXIV |issue=885 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=17 March 1883 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}
Archbishop Vaughan (1834–1883), Sydney (1883).{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108834460 |title=The Late Archbishop Vaughan. |newspaper=The Evening News (Sydney) |issue=5155 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=10 November 1883 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}
Vincent Giblin (1817–1884), late-general manager of the Australian Joint Stock Bank (1884).
Sir Alfred Stephen, Lieutenant-governor of the Colony of New South Wales (1885), in oils.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111179410 |title=Portrait of Sir Alfred Stephen. |newspaper=The Evening News (Sydney) |issue=5529 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=3 February 1885 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}
J. T. Gannon, President of the Mechanics' Institute, Goulburn, New South Wales (1885), life-size bust, in oils, drawn from an earlier photograph. In a gilt frame, {{convert|4|ft}} by {{convert|3|ft}}.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109767840 |title=Mechanics' Institute. |newspaper=Southern Argus |issue=9778 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=21 March 1885 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103279587 |title=portrait of Mr. Gannon. |newspaper=Goulburn Herald |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=2 May 1885 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103283278 |title=Goulburn Mechanics' Institute.—Portrait of Mr. Gannon. |newspaper=Goulburn Herald |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=16 May 1885 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}
Truganini (1891).{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39566081 |title=Current topics. |newspaper=Launceston Examiner |volume=LI |issue=74 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=27 March 1891 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}
Sir Henry Parkes (pre-1898). This may have been separate to the 1881 large life-size portrait in oils, painted with the NSW premier wearing decorations including the KCMG.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107215712 |title=Portrait of the Premier. |newspaper=The Evening News (Sydney) |issue=4331 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=10 May 1881 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} Another portrait from life, in oils, of Parkes was painted in September 1885.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70984603 |title=Miscellaneous items |newspaper=Australian Town and Country Journal |volume=XXXII |issue=821 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=3 October 1885 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=41 |via=National Library of Australia}}
Sir William Lambert Dobson (1833–1898), late-Chief Justice, Tasmania (1898).{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9418242 |title=By Electric Telegraph. |newspaper=The Mercury |volume=LXXI |issue=8756 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=24 March 1898 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}
Major-General Robert Baden-Powell (1900), attired in the uniform of the 5th Dragoon Guards, in oils.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153626880 |title=A picture of Major-General Baden-Powell. |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |volume=XX |issue=123 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=24 May 1900 |access-date=2 October 2021 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}

= Landscapes =

'Cataract Gorge, First basin', Launceston (1892), once exhibited in the Victoria Museum and Art Gallery.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153367707 |title=The Victoria Museum and Art Gallery. |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |volume=XII |issue=268 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=10 November 1892 |access-date=3 October 2021 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}} It has been exhibited as recently as 2020.{{cite news |last1=DUGGAN |first1=Brinley |title=The National Automobile Museum of Tasmania now has an art exhibit |url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/6982348/planes-trains-automobiles-and-art/ |access-date=3 October 2021 |agency=The Examiner (Tasmania) |date=23 October 2020}} The original sketch was done in December 1891 when the Cataract was in flood.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39456532 |title=Current topics. |newspaper=Launceston Examiner |volume=LII |issue=20 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=23 January 1892 |access-date=3 October 2021 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}