Andrew MacCormac

Andrew MacCormac (23 December 1826 – 13 August 1918) was a portrait painter in South Australia.

History

Andrew was born on Dec 23 1826[1] in Banbridge, County Down[2] Ireland and studied at Lee's Academy in London. His father John MacCormac was the town clerk of Banbridge County Down, Ireland. Andrew was persuaded to come to Australia by the G. C. King , Town clerk of Melbourne, who was in England lobbying to stop the transportation of convicts to Victoria.[1] MacCormac and his wife travelled by steamer Golden Age to Melbourne in 1854. He was ordained a minister of the Presbyterian Church, but at some stage became a Baptist. He moved to South Australia in 1868[3] and ministered to the Moonta Baptist Church for a year, then moved to North Adelaide where he turned professional portraitist in oils.[4]

He was also a writer and poet of some ability. He published one small volume of verse Via Crucis; or Death and Life[5] dedicated to Lord Hallam Tennyson.

He attempted painting landscapes, but those he exhibited at the Adelaide Easel Club, of which he was a member, were received without enthusiasm.[6]

Some portraits

Family

He married Emily Mary Johnson (21 March 1847 – 3 November 1898). Their children included:

  • Alexander Henry MacCormac (11 February 1872 – 7 August 1944) married Esther May Leedham (6 May 1881 – 1 September 1958) on 14 September 1910 at the residence of her parents at Bowden on the Hill, SA
  • Nicholas Chevalier MacCormac (17 June 1873 – 25 July 1956) married Margaret Mary Edith Turner (1879 – ) on 12 April 1906[20] in Goodwood, SA
  • David Johnson MacCormac (7 December 1874 – )
  • Mitchell Henry MacCormac (21 October 1874 – 29 October 1954) married Mary Louise McGregor (c. 1889 – 5 August 1930) on 14 January 1915 at the Methodist Parsonage South Terrace, Adelaide
  • Idelette MacCormac (19 June 1868 – 8 June 1931) Never married
  • Muriel MacCormac (12 November 1869 – 6 November 1939) married Harry Thomas Percy Macklin (1855 – 2 August 1902) on 19 August 1899 in Cuthburt Street Prospect, lived at Semaphore
  • Emily Mary MacCormac (15 August 1880 – 7 November 1880)
  • Irene MacCormac (7 March 1888 – 22 July 1963) married Friedrich Wilhelm Altmann (c. 1885 – 17 July 1954) on 16 October 1915, lived at Wilmington

They lived at Clifton Street, Prospect[21]

Recognition
  • He was awarded a gold medal at the International Exhibition in London 1862.[3]
  • He was awarded a gold medal at the International Exhibition in London 1873.[22]
  • Samples of his work are held by the Art Gallery of South Australia.
  • Several of his portraits adorn the chamber walls of the House of Assembly, Adelaide City Council and the Town of Gawler.
gollark: People have still complained that it was hard to understand because of the dense and poorly organized text and lack of pictures.
gollark: I was obviously joking.
gollark: In what way?
gollark: I already do.
gollark: I should have taken the opportunity to advertise "potato OS".

References
  1. "A Painter of Portraits". The Advertiser (Adelaide). 6 April 1918. p. 14. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  2. "Obituaries". Adelaide Observer. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 17 August 1918. p. 19. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  3. McCulloch, Alan Encyclopedia of Australian Art Hutchinson of London, 1968. Spelled "McCormac" in this reference
  4. "Obituary". The Chronicle. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 24 August 1918. p. 39. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  5. MacCormac, A (1906), Via crucis, or, Death and life : a poem / by A. MacCormac, Vardon & Pritchard
  6. "The Easel Clubs Exhibition". Quiz and the Lantern. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 22 October 1896. p. 8. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  7. "The Parliamentary Portrait Gallery". South Australian Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 24 June 1890. p. 4. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  8. "Sir John Bray". South Australian Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 27 August 1891. p. 4. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  9. "Public Library Board". The Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 18 April 1903. p. 8. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  10. "Presentation to the Retiring Mayor". South Australian Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 1 December 1891. p. 7. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  11. "A New Picture". Quiz and the Lantern. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 20 April 1894. p. 11. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  12. "Personal Pars". Quiz and the Lantern. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 25 March 1892. p. 6. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  13. "Fair and Unfair". Quiz and the Lantern. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 18 November 1897. p. 10. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  14. "News of the Week". South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 10 March 1877. p. 6. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  15. "Friday, June 3, 1881". The South Australian Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 3 June 1881. p. 4. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  16. "Portrait of Sir William Milne". Adelaide Observer. SA: National Library of Australia. 2 August 1890. p. 42. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  17. "The Week". South Australian Chronicle. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 5 April 1890. p. 11. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  18. "Portrait of Admiral Pullen". South Australian Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 4 April 1883. p. 5. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  19. "Wednesday, March 31, 1886". The South Australian Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 31 March 1886. p. 4. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  20. Probably named for Nicholas Chevalier, the great Victorian painter.
  21. "Google". www.google.com.au. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  22. "Colonial Works of Art". Adelaide Observer. SA: National Library of Australia. 1 May 1875. p. 8. Retrieved 20 January 2015. These two references may refer to one award, and one or other date is incorrect.
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