[KELLY GANG; CRICKET] Signed studio portrait of Francis Augustus Hare, Superintendent of the Victorian Mounted Police, inscribed by Hare for Ivo Bligh, captain of the visiting English cricket team. "Rupertswood", Sunbury, Christmas 1882.

FOSTER & MARTIN

Beschreibung

Melbourne : Foster & Martin, [1882]. Albumen print photograph in cabinet card format, 165 x 110 mm; verso with imprint of 'Foster & Martin, Artists & Photographers, 29 & 31 Collins St. East, Melbourne', and a presentation inscription in ink by the sitter: Francis Hare, for The Honbl. Ivo Blyth [sic - *see note below]; the print has lost a small amount of contrast, but is in good condition, as is the mount. A unique artefact that connects two of the most famous events in Australian folklore: the capture of the Kelly Gang at Glenrowan in June 1880, and the birth of cricket's "Ashes" at Rupertswood, Sunbury, on 24 December 1882. Provenance: Florence Rose (Morphy) Bligh (1860-1944), wife of Ivo Bligh, captain of the England cricket team, whom she met at Rupertswood while employed as a governess in the summer of 1882-83. Note: the portrait of Hare is accompanied by a Paris Panel format outdoor photograph of the wedding group at Rupertswood on the day of the marriage of MissAda Mary Ryan, daughter of Charles Ryan and Marian (Cotton) Ryan, to Lord Charles Scott, on Friday 23rd February 1883. Francis Augustus ("Frank") Hare (1830?1892), Superintendent of the Victorian Mounted Police, is famous for his role in the final pursuit and capture of the Kelly Gang. At the siege of Glenrowan, Hare led the police assault on Jones's Hotel, but was shot through the wrist in the first volley fired by the bushrangers. He was eventually forced to withdraw from the fray, and was initially taken to Benalla. From there he proceeded to "Rupertswood", the Sunbury property of Sir Rupert and Lady Janet Clarke, in order to recuperate. Hare was related to Lady Clarke by marriage: his wife, Janet, was the sister of Janet Clarke's father, Peter Snodgrass, and he was a frequent and much loved guest of the Clarkes. Indeed, Hare would die at Rupertswood in 1892 whileconvalescing at the property after a bout of diabetes. Although Florence Rose Morphy (1860-1944) was employed as a governess at Rupertswood up until her marriage to Ivo Bligh in February 1884, shewas treated by the Clarkes as a member of the family. Florence was the daughter of respected police magistrate John Morphy, who had late in his career served in Beechworth, in the heart of "Kelly country" - meaning that Florence's background would likely have been a subject of interest for Hare. At Christmas 1882, the captain of the visiting England cricket team, Ivo Bligh, 8th Earl of Darnley (1859-1927), and his fellow cricketers stayed at Rupertswood as guests of the Clarkes. (Sir Rupert was President of theMelbourne Cricket Club). On meeting Florence Morphy, Bligh was smitten. The couple fell in love and Bligh made numerous return visits to Rupertswood in between cricket matches over the remainder of the summer in order to see Florence.The couple became engaged in March 1883 and were married almost a year later at St. Mary's Church, Sunbury, on 9 February 1884. The reception, naturally, was held at Rupertswood; Hare was one of the wedding guests. It was also at Rupertswood, on 24 December 1882, after a social game of cricket between the Englishmen and a team of locals, that The Ashes legend was born, whenLady Janet Clarke presented Bligh with a tiny urn containing what she dubbed "the Ashes of English cricket" (thought to be from a burnt cricket bail, or stump).Francis Hare was among the guests at Rupertswood that Christmas, and we believe it was at this time that Hare presented his cabinet card portrait to Bligh. *Note on Hare's mis-spelling of the surname Bligh as Blyth: whilst it can be regarded as something of a social faux pas - especially in a presentation inscription - Hare was certainly not alone in making thisorthographical error, which appears to have been a relatively common one at the time: during the England cricket team's tour of 1882-83, we find that "Ivo Blyth", rather than "Ivo Bligh", was used by journalists in a number of respectable newspapers including theAdelaide Observer, Daily Tele. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 42245

Bibliografische Details

Titel: [KELLY GANG; CRICKET] Signed studio portrait...