Untitled, "King Thakambau’s Canoe".

Percy Frederick Seaton Spence, 1868-1933 painter, illustrator and cartoonist, was born on 14 December 1868 at Balmain, Sydney. He was raised in Fiji. By 1888 he was back in Sydney taking lessons at the Art Society of NSW. He was a foundation member of its Sketch Club in 1888 and exhibited with it. Spence worked as an illustrator for the Daily Telegraph, the Sydney Mail, the Illustrated Sydney News, Queensland Punch and especially the Sydney Bulletin. He also contributed illustrations to the Town and Country Journal. Back at London in 1895, Spence joined the Chelsea Arts Club and contributed work to Black and White and The Graphic. Later he drew for the Sphere, Illustrated London News, Punch, Harpur’s Monthly, Ludgate Monthly, Pall Mall Magazine and Windsor Magazine. Spence and family returned to Sydney in 1905-6. His oil painting, Australian Fleet entering Sydney Harbour 1913, was purchased for the Royal collection. Like Tom Roberts, Spence served with the RAMC during WWI. He died in 1933. Rare original watercolour which was used for the illustration for Australia’s biggest publishing venture, The Picturesque Atlas of Australasia. Published as an engraving in Volume 3, page 673. Included with this watercolour are three related engravings of King Thakambau of Fiji. Original oak frame. NRLLJ