Private Viewing of the Newly-Acquired Portrait of Queensland’s Eighth Governor, Lord Lamington

On 16 December, Queensland Library Foundation hosted its patron, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland and honoured guest, Former Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO at a special viewing of the Library’s newly acquired portrait of Queensland’s 8th Governor, Lord Lamington.

Left to right: Jane Cowell, Acting State Librarian; Dianne Byrne, Acting Manager of Original Materials; His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland and Max Walters OAM, President of the Queensland Library Foundation

The portrait, purchased at auction in the United Kingdom, is the work of Robert Duddingstone Herdman, a second-generation Scottish artist who specialised in depicting Victorian and Edwardian society. The picture is dated 1895, the year that Lord Lamington was selected to succeed Sir Henry Norman as Governor of Queensland.

During the evening, Dianne Byrne, Acting Manager of Original Materials spoke about the history and provenance of the painting and the changing fortunes of the Lamington family. The highlight of the event was the Governor’s acceptance of the portrait on long-term loan to Government House. He also thanked Queensland Library Foundation’s donors for their ongoing support of State Library, and acknowledged the work of staff in helping to preserve Queensland’s unique documentary history.