[Editor: This article by Harrison Owen, regarding Frank Mahony, was published in the “London Life” section of The West Australian (Perth, WA), 7 December 1921.]
An artist’s grave
It is perhaps a little strange that just at a time when I have been collecting information on the subject of mendicity I should be asked to do a little begging letter writing myself, but in this instance I can at least plead that the case (the merits of which those interested must judge for themselves) is authentic.
A little colony of Australian artists in Chelsea are anxious to place a slab or other simple monument on the grave of the late Frank Mahony, the famous Australian animal painter, who lies buried in the Kensington Cemetery. Pictures by Mahony, whose work is well-known to art lovers, are included in public collections in several of the States, and I think it may safely be said that Australia has produced no other painter who could portray horses and cattle with so much spirit and fidelity. Mahony left his native land 20 years ago in search of wider fame. When the artist arrived in London his friend, Phil May, put him in the way of receiving commissions from various racehorse owners and country gentlemen. For a while Mahony settled at Newmarket, the famous racing centre, and might have developed into a successful painter of by no means unworthy “potboilers.” But the artist’s restless ambition caused him to turn his back on these prospects, take a studio in London and concentrate upon a big effort intended for the Royal Academy.
The picture was rejected, and the setback — of a kind which many now successful artists were able to survive — embittered Mahony. He cut himself off from his old Australian friends and became a recluse. He had to go into a hospital in 1916, but it was not until he was dying that the Australian art colony became aware of his illness. A nurse rang up the Chelsea Arts Club and stated that there was an Australian painter in the hospital who was not expected to live and who, unless something was done, would, if he died, have to be buried as a pauper. Messrs. Fred. Leist, George Lambert, George Coates, Tom Roberts and other Australian artists in London got to work and collected some money. Mahony died that night, but the amount subscribed was sufficient to purchase a grave and provide a simple funeral.
The grave has long been neglected, and an attempt to provide a monument was abandoned during the war, when Australian artists were scattered on many fronts. Now the attempt has been revived. The high cost of materials possibly will preclude anything but the most simple of memorials, though there are sculptors prepared to give their services in designing and executing something more elaborate should the amount received render this practicable. A subscription list has been opened here, and it is thought that some of Mahony’s artistic colleagues or admirers of his work in Australia may wish to contribute. Two Australian artists — Mr. Fred Leist, the portrait painter, and Mr. Will Dyson, the well-known cartoonist — are the joint treasurers of the Frank Mahony Memorial Fund, and they have asked me to bring this appeal under Australian notice, and to say that any subscriptions sent to either of them, “Care of the Chelsea Arts Club, London, S.W.,” will be gratefully received.
Source:
The West Australian (Perth, WA), 7 December 1921, p. 8
Editor’s notes:
In this article Frank Mahony’s surname was spelt as “Mahoney”, which was a common misspelling of his surname (this has been corrected to “Mahony” in all instances).
Fred. = an abbreviation of the name “Frederick”
mendicity = (a variant of: mendicancy) the practice of begging (asking for food or money to alleviate the conditions of poverty; imploring others for aid and assistance); the activities of a beggar; the condition or state of being a beggar
Messrs. = an abbreviation of “messieurs” (French), being the plural of “monsieur”; used in English as the plural of “Mister” (which is abbreviated as “Mr.”); the title is used in English prior to the names of two or more men (often used regarding a company, e.g. “the firm of Messrs. Bagot, Shakes, & Lewis”, “the firm of Messrs. Hogue, Davidson, & Co.”)
potboiler = an artistic or creative work (such as a book, movie, painting, or play) of inferior, low, or poor quality, which has been created primarily for financial gain; usually such works are of little or minimum artistic merit, having been created for a quick sale, by appealing to popular or common taste, with the aim of ensuring that the artist or creator receives money for basic sustenance (the term derives from the domestic cooking pot of earlier years, placed upon a fire which was kept going to boil the pot, thereby providing hot food and warmth for the home; if a flow of money could be earned, then the pot could be kept boiling)
See: 1) “potboiler: noun”, Merriam-Webster
2) “Potboiler”, Wikipedia
S.W. = (abbreviation) South Western (a postcode for the South Western area of London, England)
See: 1) “Postcodes”, The Postal Museum
2) “SW postcode area”, Wikipedia
[Editor: Changed “the portrait painter” to “the portrait painter,” (added a comma); “Mahoney” to “Mahony” (this occurred in eight places in the article).]
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