Wrigglesworth & Binns (active c.1870-1900; New Zealanders), after
Captain John Stewart Spotswood, Settler in 1839, near the present site of Spottiswoode
Pastel over photographic print, 55 x 42 cm (visible image), in frame 86 x 73 cm
Presented by R.H.Seddon, 1887
State Library of Victoria (H239)

This image is identified in the inscription at the base of the frame as a portrait of “Capt.John Spotswood settler near present site of Spotswood 1839.”

The 1894 and 1905 NGV catalogues describe it as “a chalk drawing by Eglesworth and Binns”. In fact, as SLV librarian Gerard Hayes pointed out in 2019, the authors were evidently Wrigglesworth & Binns, a photographic partnership documented as active in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin (Spotswood’s family also had connections with New Zealand). Hayes notes that the drawing was made over a photographic matrix, and that a monogram at the lower right, next to the photographers’ names, comprising the initials THP (?), may be that of the pastellist.

The sitter (1809-51) settled the Melbourne suburbs of Williamstown and Spotswood. Seddon, named as the donor in NGV 1894 and 1905, was apparently his son-in-law.

Refs.

Not listed in AR 1887; NGV 1894, p.126 and NGV 1905, p.150 (in each case, V.Buvelot Gallery, south wall, no.2; title as given above; as by Eglesworth & Binns; size given as 22 x 16 inches)

See SLV online catalogue as indicated (recently updated details). Gerard Hayes made the points noted above in an email (July 2019), and compared a studio photograph of a child by Wrigglesworth & Binns (SLV H86.98/51, dated c.1871-1890)

For further information on Frederick Binns (1844-1915) and J.D.Wrigglesworth (c.1836-1906), see http://canterburyphotography.blogspot.com/2008/09/wrigglesworth-binns.html and http://canterburyphotography.blogspot.com/2008/12/wrigglesworth-binns-part-one-wellington.html (both accessed 20 July 2019). The New Zealand section of the 1880-81 Melbourne International Exhibition included photographs and “mezzo-tint portraits” by Wrigglesworth & Binns (refer catalogue, Vol.I, p.292, cat.no.112: see http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/298690)

For Spotswood and his family, see e.g. http://www.geni.com/people/John-Spotswood/6000000006360238067 and http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc01Cycl-t1-body-d3-d5-d3.html