Albert Edward Nevin (1888-1955) was the seventh child, fifth son and last born child to photographer Thomas J. Nevin (1842-1923) and his wife Elizabeth Rachel Nevin nee Day (1847-1914).

Youngest son of Thomas and Elizabeth Nevin, Albert Nevin, 1914
From © The Nevin Family Collection 2009 ARR.

On the verso of the photo is written:

“To Miss E. Davis, From Mr. A. Nevin, 1914“

Albert was born at 236 Elizabeth Street, Hobart. He married Emily Maud Davis (1891-1971) on the 5th March, 1917, at Launceston, Tasmania. He died in 1955, aged 67 yrs. Emily was three years younger but died sixteen years later, in 1971, aged 80 yrs.

Painted portrait of Albert Nevin with pacer ca. 1917
From © The Nevin Family Collection 2009 ARR. Watermarked.

Above: the painted image, richly coloured (scanned here), of Albert Nevin with his horse, a pacer, probably dates to ca. 1917. It was either painted over a copy of the 1914 photograph, or the artist closely modelled the painting from it. The painting hung above a fireplace for many years, and still exists in its original frame (below).

Albert most likely chose the black and white photograph as the best representation of himself he could give his fiancee Emily Maud Davis in 1914, and having succeeded in winning her hand, presented the painted version to Emily on their wedding day, March 5th 1917 in Launceston. By August 13, 1917, they were back in Hobart and Albert was racing again, at Moonah in the Derwent Handicap (see newspaper extracts below).

The painting in original frame
From © The Nevin Family Collection 2009 ARR.

Racing results in The Mercury 1916 for A. Nevin with “Blue Gum”;
and in 1917 with “Rosalind” Click on images for readable versions.

Above:Albert Nevin with horse in harness and sulky, 1940s
Below: Notice of Albert Nevin’s death, The Mercury November 5, 1955

Click on images for readable version.