Portrait of Charles Henry West

Charles Henry West, born 1855, was a customs officer at Port Adelaide, 1889-1892, and a lighthouse keeper at Cape Jaffa, Troubridge, and South Neptune Island, 1893-1919. He married Emma Isabella Germein, daughter of Samuel Germein. The State Library holds papers of Charles Henry West, comprising diary 1889-1918 routinely recording lighthouse duties, lighthouse keeping instruction books, notebooks for customs procedures, lighthouse photographs and family photographs.

This work has been created with a technique known as opaltype, and is essentially a portrait developed from a photograph then cast on to glass. The image itself appears to have been black and white, then hand coloured. The artist has paid close attention to the detail of the costume including gold buttons on the suit and white pigment added to the eyes and other reflective areas. In this piece, the subject has been illustrated with clear blue eyes and dark blonde hair.

An original label attached to reverse of the work advertises the place of the creation of the opal type "DIMOND BROS.; PHOTO ENLARGERS; PICTURE FRAMERS; Mount Cutters and Plush Workers,; 146 RUNDLE STREET, ADELAIDE.; BRANCHES:; 77 Bridge Road, Melbourne; Spring; Hill Brisbane and Perth W.A.", (bot l) "DJ Glen??; 23/11/94"

Permission to use this item for any purpose, including publishing, is not required from the State Library under these conditions of use.

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