Portraits of youngest son Albert with horse 1914-17

Posted on February 3, 2009July 25, 2021 by Thomas Nevin

CHILDREN of ELIZABETH R. DAY & PHOTOGRAPHER THOMAS J. NEVIN
ALBERT E. NEVIN and EMILY M. DAVIS
HORSE RACING TASMANIA

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 E. Nevin, Hobart, 1914
Copyright © KLW NFC Private Collection 2009 ARR.

On the verso of the photo of Albert Nevin with horse is written:

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

Albert E. Nevin 1914 Hobart, TasmaniaAlbert Nevin 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.

Emily Maud Davis (standing) with her mother Frances Davis nee Stewart, ca. 1909
Photographed at Burrows & Co, the Quadrant. Launceston, blind stamp on recto.
Copyright © KLW NFC Private Collection 2009 ARR.

Painted portrait of Albert Nevin with pacer ca. 1917
Copyright © KLW NFC 2009 Private Collection ARR. Watermarked.

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 sat above a fireplace for many years, and still exists in its original frame (below).

The painting or painted photograph of Albert Nevin and horse in original frame, 1917
Copyright © KLW NFC Imprint 2009 Private Collection ARR.

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).

Risdon Park racing results in the Mercury 1916 for A. Nevin with “Blue Gum” on left; and in 1917 with “Rosalind” on right.

New Town racetrack ca. 1900
Courtesy Archives Office Tasmania

Notice of Albert Edward Nevin’s death, Mercury November 5, 1955

TRANSCRIPT

NEVIN. – On November 3, 1955, suddenly, at Royal Hobart Hospital, Albert Edward, the dearly beloved husband of Emily Maude Nevin, 61 Sunderland St., Derwent Park, loving father of Eva, Hilda, Donald, Betty, Rosie, Margaret, William, and Peter, and loved brother of George and Min (Mrs. Drew), aged 67 years. Late of 23 Newdegate St.

Source: Mercury 5 November 1955