Portrait of G. V. Brooke c. 1866

Summary

This lithograph captures the Irish-born Shakespearean actor Gustavus Vaughan Brooke (1818-1866). Brooke arrived in Melbourne on 23 February 1855 and stayed in Australia until May 1861. Brooke was later engaged for another two-year tour of Australia, and he embarked on the 'London' for Melbourne in February 1866. The vessel sank six days after its departure, with a loss of 220 lives. Brooke was said to have helped others into lifeboats but stayed behind as the overcrowded boats rowed away, calling ‘Give my last farewell to the people of Melbourne’. This line is commemorated at the top of this portrait. At the bottom is a small medallion featuring a portrait of Shakespeare. Brooke's death caused genuine grief for Australian theatregoers, and for this reason we might assume that this print was produced in commemoration.

Printmaker Charles Troedel (1835-1906), born in Hamburg, relocated to Melbourne in 1860. Troedel worked for AW Schuhkrafft for three years. In 1863 he set up his own lithographic printing business in Collins Street, installing the press he had brought with him from Europe.