James Walsh (c. 1833–1871) was a transported convict and artist. He is known for artworks depicting the early Swan River Colony and native Australian life. He is also thought to have been responsible for a number of fine-quality classical drawings on the wall of Fremantle Prison in Western Australia, which were accidentally uncovered beneath whitewash in 1945.
Drawing found in James Walsh's cell
Imprisonmentedit
Walsh, a clerk and painter, was convicted at the Old Bailey, London, in 1852 aged 20 for stealing two diamond crosses and 13 diamonds from Jean-Baptiste Girard. He was also charged with forging an order of goods. He received 15 years' transportation.[1]
He arrived in Western Australia on board Ramillies[2] on 10 August 1854 and was held at Fremantle convict establishment for two years. He was released for four months then convicted again for forgery of a one-pound note. For this crime he was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment. At some time during this sentence, he is thought to have drawn intricate drawings of religious figures, Roman and Greek mythological depictions, and images of Queen Victoria on the walls of his small cell. He was released in 1867 and worked as a painter and clerk until his death from tuberculosis in 1871.[3]
Almost a century later, in 1964, intricate classically styled artworks and texts were uncovered in a storeroom that was once his cell after a prison guard damaged the wall by accident, removing whitewash and revealing the artwork.[4] One incomplete sentence reads "J Walsh left this cell 9 mar".[5] Today the cell can be viewed as part of tours of the now-closed prison site.
Walsh is also credited with several artworks displayed at the Art Gallery of Western Australia depicting the early Swan River Colony, including a set of twelve watercolour sketches depicting native Australian life.[6]
Referencesedit
^Old Bailey Proceedings Online (accessed 27 August 2016), Trial of James Walsh. (t18520510-532, 10 May 1852).
^"Ramillies – arrived in WA in 1854". Convicts to Australia. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
^"James Walsh b. 1833". Design & Art Australia Online. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
^Grant, Steve (24 May 2013). "Gaol art generates heritage dollars". Fremantle Herald.
^"Fremantle Prison". Heritageaustralia.com.au. Accessed April 2016.
^"Walsh, James (1833–)". Trove. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
January 01, 1970
james, walsh, convict, james, walsh, 1833, 1871, transported, convict, artist, known, artworks, depicting, early, swan, river, colony, native, australian, life, also, thought, have, been, responsible, number, fine, quality, classical, drawings, wall, fremantle. James Walsh c 1833 1871 was a transported convict and artist He is known for artworks depicting the early Swan River Colony and native Australian life He is also thought to have been responsible for a number of fine quality classical drawings on the wall of Fremantle Prison in Western Australia which were accidentally uncovered beneath whitewash in 1945 Drawing found in James Walsh s cellImprisonment editWalsh a clerk and painter was convicted at the Old Bailey London in 1852 aged 20 for stealing two diamond crosses and 13 diamonds from Jean Baptiste Girard He was also charged with forging an order of goods He received 15 years transportation 1 He arrived in Western Australia on board Ramillies 2 on 10 August 1854 and was held at Fremantle convict establishment for two years He was released for four months then convicted again for forgery of a one pound note For this crime he was sentenced to eight years imprisonment At some time during this sentence he is thought to have drawn intricate drawings of religious figures Roman and Greek mythological depictions and images of Queen Victoria on the walls of his small cell He was released in 1867 and worked as a painter and clerk until his death from tuberculosis in 1871 3 Almost a century later in 1964 intricate classically styled artworks and texts were uncovered in a storeroom that was once his cell after a prison guard damaged the wall by accident removing whitewash and revealing the artwork 4 One incomplete sentence reads J Walsh left this cell 9 mar 5 Today the cell can be viewed as part of tours of the now closed prison site Walsh is also credited with several artworks displayed at the Art Gallery of Western Australia depicting the early Swan River Colony including a set of twelve watercolour sketches depicting native Australian life 6 References edit Old Bailey Proceedings Online accessed 27 August 2016 Trial of James Walsh t18520510 532 10 May 1852 Ramillies arrived in WA in 1854 Convicts to Australia Retrieved 28 April 2016 James Walsh b 1833 Design amp Art Australia Online Retrieved 28 April 2016 Grant Steve 24 May 2013 Gaol art generates heritage dollars Fremantle Herald Fremantle Prison Heritageaustralia com au Accessed April 2016 Walsh James 1833 Trove Retrieved 8 April 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Walsh convict amp oldid 1121753382, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
