CALVERT, Samuel (1828-1913) — Melbourne
Artist in oil and water-colour; draughtsman; wood-engraver. Known for prospects and bird’s-eye views, e.g. Melbourne 1871, after Albert Charles Cooke, for the Illustrated Australian News; Sydney 1874, after Cooke, for the Illustrated Sydney News; Dunedin, N.Z. 1875, after Cooke, for the Illustrated New Zealand Herald; Newcastle 1875, after Cooke, for the Illustrated Sydney News; Adelaide 1876, after Cooke, for the Illustrated Sydney News; Ballarat 1884, after Cooke for the Illustrated Australian News, etc. Also known for views, portraits, etc.
Born 21 Nov 1828 at Brixton, London, a son of the well-known artist and engraver Edward Calvert (1779-1883), of whom Calvert later published a reminiscence, ‘A memoir of Edward Calvert, artist : by his third son’ (1893) and his wife Mary Bennell (1805?-1869). Part of an artistic family circle, he arrived at Adelaide aboard the Symmetry 9 Nov 1848, following two older brothers who had emigrated in 1843. Initially employed in Adelaide by the printer George Dehane, he was soon providing illustrations for magazines, including the Illustrated Commentator, which he part owned. In 1850, he opened an Artists’ Repository in King William Street, and the following year was in partnership with the printer Alfred Waddy. He married Emma Lake (1831?-1862), daughter of a Northamptonshire farmer, with whom he had several children, in about 1851. He left Adelaide for Melbourne 24 Jan 1852. Working as a wood-engraver, he produced illustrations, advertisements, etc., 1854-1857, in partnership with his brother William Calvert (1826-1914). He successfully tendered for the engraving of postage stamps, but this led both to financial and legal difficulties, the latter concerning his attempts to raise money to develop a perforating machine by pawning stamps, which led to a prosecution for embezzlement and obtaining money under false pretences. A three-month prison sentence was not enforced, but he was declared bankrupt in May 1858. He subsequently worked mainly for others until 1867, producing work for the Melbourne Post and the Illustrated Australian News, etc. In a letter to The Herald, published 24 Apr 1868, he robustly refuted an accusation of plagiarism made against him by the Melbourne Post. Exhibited at numerous locations both in Australia and elsewhere, frequently receiving awards. Elected to the Victorian Academy of Arts 1 Nov 1871, he served on its council 1872-1877. He was recorded as owning shares in various gold and silver mines in the 1870s. He returned to England for a time about 1887, apparently to join the inventor Louis Brennan in a venture involving mechanical toys. He was boarding in London with a daughter in 1891, but was in Melbourne once more by 1894. His premises were destroyed by fire in 1895, but soon rebuilt. He returned to England permanently in about 1904 and died 1 Jan 1913 at Crowthorne, Berkshire, where he was buried. A gravestone survives in the churchyard of St. John Crowthorne. A will dated 27 Sep 1911 leaving everything to his daughter Emma Florence Calvert (1854-1931) survives in Victoria archives. A son, William Samuel Calvert (1861-1923), also an engraver, was appointed executor of his property in Australia, which had a declared value of £2,380.
Artists’ Repository in King William Street, Adelaide — 1850
North Terrace, Adelaide — 1851
Melbourne, Victoria — 1852
Lonsdale Street, Melbourne — 1854
Brunswick Street, Collingwood — 1855
24 Collins Street West, Melbourne — 1856
41 George Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne (home) — 1865
87 Little Collins Street East, Melbourne — 1867-1886
90-92 Collins Street, Melbourne — 1894-1897
Bank Place, Melbourne — 1898
BNA. DAAO. Engen (1985). LHD. NLA. Trove.