Portrait of Mrs Sarah Fairfax

Edwin Dalton arrived in Victoria in the early 1850s having exhibited on occasion at the Royal Academy and at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia. Dalton’s teacher, Sir William Ross, was Miniature Painter to Queen Victoria and created multiple portraits of and for her between 1836 and 1860. Ross’ sister Magdalena – also a miniaturist – was Dalton’s wife. After arriving in Melbourne, Dalton established himself as a portrait painter, exhibiting with the Victoria Fine Arts’ Society in 1853 and in the Melbourne Exhibition in 1854. He added photography to his repertoire after moving to Sydney where, in 1858, he opened his Royal Photographic Establishment on George Street. By 1861 he was offering 'photographic portraiture in all the modern branches – crayon, ivory, glass and paper – artistically coloured by E. Dalton, formerly painter and instructor to the Queen'. This claim endeared Dalton to members of Sydney's social elite and to leaders in the business community – including newspaper proprietor John Fairfax. His wife Sarah (1808–1875) is depicted in this work in mourning for her eldest son Charles, who died, aged 34, in December 1863.

Gift of John Fairfax Holdings Ltd 2002. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.