EARLE, Augustus 1793–1838

Born in London, son of American portrait painter James Earl, and nephew of well known painter Ralph Earl. Was probably a pupil of the loyalist American painter Benjamin West who had settled in London. Exhibited irregularly at RA 1806–14, was from 1815 an itinerant painter. In 1824, while on a voyage from Rio de Janeiro to the Cape of Good Hope, he was stranded for almost 9 months on the island of Tristan D'Acunha. After nearly 2 years in New South Wales he spent 6 months (October 1827–April 1828) in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, making vivid sketches of Maori life as well as painting in watercolour and in oil landscapes and portraits. He used this work as a basis for lithographs in his Sketches Illustrative of the Native Inhabitants and Islands of New Zealand pub. 1838, for illustrations in his Narrative of a Residence in New Zealand pub. 1832, and for a panorama of the Bay of Islands produced in London. In 1831 he set off on HMS Beagle employed as an artist but was forced by ill health to leave the ship at Montevideo, and returned to London c.1834. Exhibited with RA 1837–38. Work included in Centennial Ex, Wtn 1940. Represented: Turnbull.