This is Percy Spence

Percy Frederick Seaton Spence (14 December 1868 – 3 August 1933) was an Australian artist.

Spence was born in Sydney, seventh child of English parents Francis Spence, civil servant, and his wife Hannah, née Turnbull. Spence spent his puberty in Fiji where his daddy held a organization position.

Spence became an illustrator to the Sydney Daily Telegraph, Illustrated Sydney News and The Bulletin and also exhibited at the Royal Art Society.

In 1893 Spence made two drawings of Robert Louis Stevenson in Sydney; one is now in the National Portrait Gallery, London. Spence went to England after marrying Jessie Wright 30 January 1894; illustrations by him appeared in Punch, Black and White, the Graphic, and other well-known publications of the time. Spence had two pictures in the Royal Academy exhibition of 1899 and his conduct yourself was also all the rage in the three in imitation of years. In 1901 he was responsible for the illustrations to Britain’s Austral Empire, mostly portraits of the leading Australian politicians of that period.

See also  Edmond Marie Petitjean: life and works

In 1905 Spence was assist in Sydney and held a one-man produce a result of his work, and in 1910 he provided 75 illustrations for the volume Australia, in Black’s colour series. They be active Spence to have been an player of capability and variety.

Spence died of uraemia on 3 August 1933 in Middlesex Hospital, London, after an eye operation. Spence is represented in the National Gallery and the Mitchell library in Sydney. A pencil sketch of Phil May is in the National Portrait Gallery (London), and other portraits are at University of Sydney and at the High Court. The “H. M. Australian Fleet arriving at Sydney Heads” and a portrait of Rear-Admiral George Patey are at Buckingham Palace.

What do you think of the works of Percy Spence?

Use the form below to say your opinion about Percy Spence. All opinions are welcome!

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.