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.
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.
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 TopImpressionists. robert hawker dowling's story serves as a testament to the enduring power of art in capturing the essence of a bygone era.
