Runnymede Collection: Dorothea Pitcairn portrait acquired for Runnymede
The portrait of Dorothea Pitcairn (née Dumas, 1810-1887) is firmly attributed to Conway Hart (1814-1864). Portraits by Conway Hart, who studied at London’s Royal Academy and worked in Hobart and Victoria (1850-61) are rare. Hart appears to be a successor to T. G. Wainewright in loving attenuated, slender sitters. He was criticized on occasion for his drafting and it is interesting that this oil portrait relates to a photographic portrait by Frederick Frith c1855 in the Runnymede collection.
Dorothea Pitcairn was the wife of Robert Pitcairn (1802-1861), builder of Runnymede (originally Cairn Lodge). Robert Pitcairn is remembered for spearheading the movement to end Convict Transportation to Van Diemen’s Land (achieved in 1853) and the achievement of Responsible Government for Tasmania (achieved in 1856). Dorothea supported her husband’s legislative reform. She was a lively diarist, her writings describing the family’s domestic and social life and intellectual pursuits. She is the first of a series of strong women who lived at Runnymede including Anna Maria Nixon and women of the Bayley and Bayly families. Her portrait will anchor the interpretation of women’s history at Runnymede.
While the Pitcairns lived at Runnymede from 1838-50 and are among its most notable inhabitants, they have been under-represented at Runnymede where this portrait will be permanently on display.
Runnymede will be closed in July and August for annual housekeeping program and will reopen in September 2024. The Trust will launch this marvelous acquisition in October. Watch this space for further details.