a colonial artist's journey

robert hawker dowling, a prominent australian colonial artist, was born in essex, england in 1827. as the youngest son of rev. henry dowling and his wife elizabeth, née darke, he was brought to launceston, tasmania with his parents in 1839. this marked the beginning of his artistic journey.

early training and career

dowling received lessons from thomas bock and frederick strange, which laid the foundation for his future as a portrait painter. in 1850, he advertised his services as a portrait painter, signaling the start of his professional career.

notable works and exhibitions

* between 1859 and 1882, dowling exhibited 16 pictures at the royal academy, with additional works showcased at the british institute. * his portraits of notable figures such as sir henry loch, dr. james moorhouse, and francis ormond are particularly noteworthy.

legacy and later life

dowling's time in launceston and later in melbourne was marked by his prolific output of portraits. eventually, he returned to london, where he passed away in 1886.

• view robert hawker dowling's artworks on ArtsDot
• explore the top 5 famous artists of all time to understand the broader context of colonial artists like dowling.
• discover more about the royal academy's history and its impact on artists like dowling through this article on chelmsford museum, united kingdom.

key takeaways: * robert hawker dowling's artistic career was marked by his training under thomas bock and frederick strange. * his portraits of sir henry loch, dr. james moorhouse, and francis ormond are notable examples of his work. * dowling's legacy as a colonial artist continues to be celebrated through his artworks showcased on ArtsDot. robert hawker dowling's story serves as a testament to the enduring power of art in capturing the essence of a bygone era.