• Title
  Miniature portrait formerly believed to be Betsey Alicia Clark, nee Trevan / I. [or J ?] Brooke facit, 1804
• Creator
  I. or J. Brooke
• Call number
  MIN 59
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  1804
• Type of material
  Graphic Materials, Watercolours
• Reference code
  432026
• Issue Copy
  Digitised
• Physical Description
  Drawings - 1 watercolour on ivory miniature in gold oval shaped frame with glass front. Encased in an oval compartment on the reverse covered in glass with a black material backing, are two strands of human hair, brown in colour, that are looped and tied with gold thread. At the top centre of the frame is a gold loop for hanging. - 6.1 x 4.8 cm. inside frame (sight) - 6.9 x 5.6 cm., frame, 1.5 cm. loop
  
• Scope and Content
  Head-and-shoulders portrait shows female wearing a wrap-around gown influenced by Spanish military trim with slashing (insertion of puffs of muslin on sleeves and bodice), an Elizabethan revival style ruff at neckline made of muslin with white work embroidery, and an ornamental clasp at the centre of her hair.
• Access Conditions
  
  Access via appointment
• General note
  
  The identity of the person in this portrait was formerly believed to be Mrs Betsey Alicia Clark, nee Trevan, (1762-1794). Betsey was the wife of Ralph Clark (1755-1794), 2nd Lieutenant of Marines, who sailed with the First Fleet to Australia on board the Friendship. Betsey, Ralph and their only child, Ralph Stewart, all died in 1794.
  The hairstyle and dress of the woman portrayed in the miniature appear to be of the first years of the nineteenth century rather than the last decade of the eighteenth century.
  It is possible that the portrait might be of Anne Trevan, nee Watts (1777-1837). Anne was the wife of John Archer Trevan (1769-1851), youngest brother of Betsey Alicia. She was baptised Jane Watts but seems to have used the name Anne, or Ann. She would have been aged 27 when this portrait is said to have been painted.
  As the last surviving male of this branch of the Trevan family, John Archer inherited the journals (ML C220) and letterbook (ML C221) of his brother in law Ralph Clark. They passed to John's son, Dr Frederick Trevan (1803-1885) and were offered for sale by his son, Frederick Adolphus Trevan (1857-1916), together with this miniature, through Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, on 10 July 1914.
  They were acquired at this time by the Mitchell Library. The miniature was said to be the one Clark took to Australia with him and mentioned in his journal.
  
  Reference:
  Notes, Head, Pictures Section, 2006.
  
  For further notes on the identity of the sitter of the portrait and the artist, see PXn 694.
  Digital order no:Album ID : 874434
  This item has been digitised as part of the Nelson Meers Foundation Benefaction, 2003.
• Signatures / Inscriptions
  
  Inscription on separate piece of paper: "I. Brooke facit / 1804".
  There is a Miss Brooke listed fl. 1807, Cork Street, London, in D. Foskett, A dictionary of British miniature painters, vol. 1 (London: 1972), however it cannot be confirmed that she is the artist.
• Name
  Trevan, Anne (1777-1837)
  
• Subject
  Adult Females
  
• Topic
  hair (people)
  miniatures
  picture frames
  portraits
  
• Exhibited in
  
  Possessed : an exhibition of treasures - State Library of New South Wales (4 March - 29 June, 1997)
  Nelson Meers Foundation Heritage Collection - State Library of New South Wales (April - June 2004)

View Media Files

2.

3.

Show more