professional photographer, was born in Ireland where he apparently trained as a photographer. He came to Tasmania in the wake of his brother William Paul Dowling , transported for sedition. In 1858 M.P. Dowling exhibited photographs at the Hobart Town Art-Treasures Exhibition. By the following year at least he was in partnership with his brother (known as Paul) at Launceston; a large portrait of the mayor of Launceston by Dowling Brothers is dated 1859 (Archives Office of Tasmania). In the early 1860s M.P. Dowling was travelling around Tasmania on his own mainly taking portraits, visiting Westbury (1860), Deloraine (May 1860), Carrick, Torquay (January 1861) and Stanley (March 1861). The Launceston Examiner of 15 January 1861 announced that he was in Launceston 'for a few days only’ to take portraits. He photographed locals at the Bush Hotel, New Norfolk, in February 1862. In 1863 64 he was briefly in partnership with Peter Laurie Reid at Hobart Town.
Matthew Dowling remained responsible for the Hobart Town and rural sides of the Dowling Brothers’ business while Paul managed the Launceston studio. He seems to have been exclusively a photographer, while Paul specialised in overpainting their large portrait photographs. In Walch’s Tasmanian Almanac for 1864 M.P. Dowling advertised that he had 'perfected an instantaneous process of Photography, and can ensure his customers portraits of the youngest children with all the natural grace of childhood. All Portraits from this establishment are peculiar for their clearness, brilliancy, and artistic arrangement’. He did, however, charge extra for children under five.
In June 1869, after the brothers had parted acrimoniously, Matthew accused Paul of passing off his photographs as Paul’s own, then moved to Launceston to set up in rivalry to his brother. Initially, he took a studio at 12 Elizabeth Street but was soon at 39 Liverpool Street. By the early 1870s he was advertising as an 'artist photographer’ from the Quadrant, Launceston. After Paul died in 1877 and Matthew Patrick Dowling inherited the business they had established together, he sold out to W. Burrows and disappeared from Tasmania. Presumably, he returned to Ireland.
- Writers:
- Staff Writer
- Date written:
- 1992
- Last updated:
- 2011
