Montague Scott

For the English politician, see Montagu Scott.

Montague Scott (1835 – 15 May 1909), also known as "Montagu Scott" and affectionately as "Monty", was an Australian artist of great versatility, who came to be known for his portraits of racehorses.

Career

Scott was born Eugene Montagu Scott, the youngest son of William Scott R.A.[1] and his wife Sarah née Myles[2] in London and in the mid-1850s emigrated to Melbourne via New Zealand. He spent some time prospecting for gold but found it unrewarding.[3]

While working for a photographic studio in Melbourne around 1860 he, like John A. Upton, was introduced by Dr. T. A. Hill to the art of photograph colouring.[4] and studied painting under the "celebrated painter Ansdel",[5] presumably Richard Ansdell.

He moved to Sydney in 1866, initially working for the photographer Thomas Felton,[5] then around 1867 he took over Freeman Brothers' photographic studios at 392 George Street, naming it the "Sydney and Melbourne Photographic Gallery".

He was appointed official photographer for Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh's visit in 1868[6] and was commissioned by Henry Parkes to paint a full-size portrait of the Duke.[7] Photographs of the Duke were offered for sale to the public by both Montagu Scott and William Bradley of 140 Pitt Street.[8] But by 1870 he was bankrupt and forced to sell his equipment[2] and the business was taken over by Newman and Co.[9]

He produced some lithographs illustrating news items[10] and in 1871 was the first artist to work for the Sydney Mail.[11] Other lithographs included a souvenir of the return of the New South Wales contingent to the Sudan, featuring portraits of W. B. Dalley, Colonel Richardson and Lieutenant Spalding.[12]

In 1878 he was on stage in Sydney, drawing "lightning" caricatures of such luminaries as Sir Hercules Robinson and Sir Henry Parkes,[13] then in both Melbourne and Sydney, illustrating passages from the Scriptures.[14]

He was cartoonist for Melbourne Punch for two years, succeeding M. Chevallier,[1] then for Sydney Punch from 1866 to 1886[2] or perhaps less.[15] notably caricatures of Archbishop Polding[16] and Sir Edward Deas-Thomson.[17] and for the Australian Town and Country Journal. An example of his work may be seen here."Champions of the Willow"

Other paintings included The Death of Kennedy,[18]

A days picnic on Clark Island Sydney Harbour 1870 Montagu Scott

A days picnic on Clark Island Sydney Harbour 1870 Montagu Scott (severely panned by one critic),[19] and donated to the Mitchell Library in 1930,[2] a grim Justice,[20] and The Last Match.[21]

He also produced dioramas,[22] illustrated books and acted in dramatic productions.

He moved to Brisbane in 1887,[23] working for the Brisbane Worker as an illustrator for its sports pages, and for the Brisbane Boomerang.[1] He returned to Sydney around 1895. Work was becoming scarce as photographs displaced etchings in the newspapers and magazines and by 1908 he was once again bankrupt.[2]

Portraits

Apart from Duke of Edinburgh (for which he charged 250 guineas[23]), Scott also painted large oil portraits of:

In later life his major commissions were for equine portraits.[28][29][30]

Family life

On 20 July 1857 he married Amy Ann Johnson (ca.1839 – 15 September 1879). They had three children:

He married again, to Annie Ware Wilton on 28 October 1880.[32]

On 5 December 1889 he married once again, to Mary Ellen Price, née Mehan.[2]

He died, bankrupt and stone deaf,[33] at his home at Randwick, New South Wales on Saturday 15 May 1909.[34]

Bibliography

Gibson, G. Herbert (1846–1921) Southerly busters by Ironbark, profusely illustrated by Alfred Clint, with additional illustrations by Montagu Scott. John Sands, Sydney 1878

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Personal". The Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 19 May 1909. p. 6. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Edgar, Suzanne, 'Scott, Eugene Montagu (Monty) (1835–1909)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, accessed 28 May 2012
  3. ↑ http://www.daao.org.au/bio/eugene-montagu-scott/
  4. ↑ "The Late Dr. T. A. Hill". South Australian Register (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 4 June 1897. p. 6. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Advertising.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 16 February 1865. p. 2. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  6. ↑ "Retrospect". Illustrated Sydney News (National Library of Australia). 25 March 1868. p. 1. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  7. ↑ "Summary". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 1 May 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  8. ↑ "Advertising.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 29 February 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  9. ↑ "Advertising.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 29 July 1871. p. 6. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  10. ↑ "Death of Thunderbolt". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 6 June 1870. p. 1. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  11. ↑ McCulloch, Alan Encyclopedia of Australian Art 1968 Hutchinson of London ISBN 0 081420 7
  12. ↑ "News of the Day". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 29 June 1885. p. 7. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  13. ↑ "Amusements". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 21 August 1878. p. 5. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  14. ↑ "Advertising.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 1 March 1879. p. 1. Retrieved 28 May 2012. This reference cites a number of favourable reviews.
  15. ↑ "Advertising.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 8 March 1875. p. 8. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "FINE ARTS.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 9 March 1877. p. 8. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  17. ↑ "The Sydney Morning Herald.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 10 August 1877. p. 4. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  18. ↑ "New South Wales Academy of Art". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 17 April 1873. p. 5. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  19. ↑ "Fine Arts". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 1 September 1870. p. 5. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  20. ↑ "Agricultural Society's Exhibition.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 8 May 1872. p. 7. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  21. ↑ "Advertising.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 9 December 1893. p. 14. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  22. ↑ "Advertising.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 30 August 1872. p. 8. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 http://www.daao.org.au/bio/montagu-scott/
  24. ↑ "Portrait of Mr. Richard Driver, M.L.A.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 12 March 1874. p. 7. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  25. ↑ "To the Editor of the Herald.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 21 November 1868. p. 7. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  26. ↑ "Sporting Intelligence". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 13 August 1898. p. 12. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  27. ↑ "The Sydney Morning Herald.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 5 July 1892. p. 4. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  28. ↑ "Sporting Intelligence – The Turf". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 6 February 1893. p. 3. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  29. ↑ "Notes and Anticipations.". Australian Town and Country Journal (NSW: National Library of Australia). 10 December 1892. p. 36. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  30. ↑ "Notes and Anticipations.". Australian Town and Country Journal (NSW: National Library of Australia). 29 April 1893. p. 37. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  31. ↑ "Personal". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 17 May 1909. p. 6. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  32. ↑ "Family Notices.". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 30 November 1880. p. 1. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  33. ↑ "Bankruptcy Court". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 15 September 1908. p. 5. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  34. ↑ "PERSONAL.". The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia). 21 May 1909. p. 5. Retrieved 27 May 2012.

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