James Purkis b. 1783

  • Artist (Painter)
Purkis was primarily a merchant but he worked in the arts as a scene-painter. In 1839 he painted the scenery for 'Love la Militaire', said to be the first theatrical presentation in Western Australia.

Citations

  • Clifton, E. (1930), 'Music and the stage in the early days’, JWAHS, Volume 2, Number 8.

  • Erickson, R. (1988), 'The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australian pre 1829-1888’, Nedlands, WA.

  • (1839), 07-13, Perth Gazette.

Initial data sources

  • The Dictionary of Australian Artists: painters, sketchers, photographers and engravers to 1870