Nineteenth Century New Zealand Artists: A Guide & Handbook

GILBERT, George Alexander b.1812

GILBERT, George Alexander b.1812

Arrived Australia 1842; helped to organise many well known Melbourne institutions, was first secretary of the Melbourne Mechanics Institute; taught drawing there and lectured on lithography. His wife conducted a ladies' seminary where Gilbert taught dancing and gave private drawing lessons. Was said to have held the first one man art show in Victoria and was one of the first photographers. In 1844 went bankrupt, his marriage broke up, and he was holding spiritualistic seances. In 1851 became assistant gold commissioner in Bendigo but by 1857 was in New Zealand and painting at Rotorua.