Aquila John Davis

  • Artist (Painter)
Photographer who worked in Melbourne 1866 to 1880.
Talk | Version history | Updated Oct. 19, 2011 | Created Jan. 1, 1992
Name
Aquila John Davis
Gender
Male
Roles
  • Artist (Painter)
Residence
  • 1880 40 Little Collins Street, East Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria
  • c.1876- c.1879 139 (or 159) Bourke Street East, Melbourne, Victoria
  • c.1874- c.1876 79 Webb Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria
  • 1874- 1876 75 Swanston Street, Melbourne, Victoria
  • 1866- 1870 83 Swanston Street, Melbourne, Victoria
Other Occupation
  • professional photographer
Active Period
  • 1866- 1880
Languages
  • English
Is Indigenous
No
Initial Record Data Source
  • The Dictionary of Australian Artists: painters, sketchers, photographers and engravers to 1870

professional photographer, worked in Melbourne between 1866 and 1880. He was listed both as 'Photographer [and] photographic artist’ and 'Artist and photographic colourist’ at 83 Swanston Street in 1866 70 and at 75 Swanston Street in 1874 76, with a private residence at 79 Webb Street, Fitzroy. His studio was at 139 (or 159) Bourke Street East until 1879 then was taken over by Nicholas Caire for a year and Davis moved his 'Bristol Portrait Rooms’ to 40 Little Collins Street, East Melbourne. As 'A. Davis’, he had exhibited photographic portraits 'coloured in oils and watercolours’ at the 1866 Melbourne Intercolonial Exhibition. Sydney University’s Historic Photograph Collection holds Davis & Co.'s carte-de-visite incorporating two oval portraits of the Melbourne actress Marie St Denis, full face and in profile, along with her facsimile signature. It was probably issued soon after her sensational suicide on 24 October 1868.

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Writers:
Kerr, Joan
Date written:
1992
Last updated:
2011
associate of
Nicholas John Caire
1837
Artist (Photographer)
associate of
Miss Balfe
Artist (Photographer)
two oval portraits of the Melbourne actress Marie St Denis
Collections
Melbourne Intercolonial Exhibition
1866
Exhibition ()
Public Library Building, Melbourne, Vic.
Citations:
  • Gibbney, H.J. and Smith, A.G., (1987), A Biographical Register 1788 1939, (for St. Denis Place: Canberra)
  • Davies, Alan and Stanbury, Peter, (1985), Mechanical Eye in Australia: Photography 1841-1900, (Place: Melbourne, Victoria)