Title

Death of Mr. Duke the artist.

Author

Author not identified

Source

Hobart Town Courier (Hobart)

Details

26 October 1853, p.3, col.2.

Publication date

26 October 1853

Type

Obituary

Language

English

Country of context

Australia

Abstract

William Duke died 17 October 1853.

Full text

Death of Mr. DUKE THE ARTIST. Mr Duke an artist who became popular here by the productions of his pencil and the urbanity of his deportment, died at an early hour on Monday morning, at his residence in Collingwood. Last Saturday week he was engaged on some painting and decorations at the American Circus for Mr Rowe, by whom he has been partially employed for two or three weeks past. He at that time complained of being poorly, and went home. During the early part of the last week he became worse, but about Friday he appeared to be improving fast, and was expecting to be able to proceed with the portraits of Mr. C. Young, and others, which he had in hand, during the present week. On Sunday, however, he had a relapse, and at 6 a.m on Monday he was a corpse. His disease was believed to be one of the heart. By his death a widow and six children – the eldest of whom is aged eleven years – are left totally unprovided for, and nearly destitute. At an early hour on Monday Mr. Rowe, with his accustomed liberality, headed a subscription-paper with £10, and during the day a respectable sum was obtained at the Circus for the widow and her children. Something of the kind is about to be done at the theatre also. Mr. Duke was a native of Cork, but for several years before he came here he followed his profession with great success at Sydney; losses subsequently reduced him to poverty.

[The Courier (Hobart), 26 October 1853, p.3, col.2.]