Montefiore E L, Signed (1 results)

Etching and drypoint on paper, laid on card; signed in the etched image and in pencil by the artist, some browning to paper; plate size: 26 x 19.3, paper size: 44 x 29 cm. Eliezer Levi Montefiore (1820-1894) was a businessman, etcher and gallery director born in the West Indies. His mother Hanna was cousin of the philanthropist, Sir Moses Montefiore. Levi Montefiore was educated in England. Although not a professional artist, throughout his life he was a great supporter of the arts - helping to found the Victorian Academy of Art and becoming a trustee of the Melbourne Public Library, Museums and National Gallery. In 1874 he became one of the original trustees for administering the funds for the National Art Gallery of New South Wales, which opened in 1880. He also illustrated the catalogues of the gallery with his etchings of the principal pictures in 1883-93. Montefiore was elected a member of the Royal Society of New South Wales in 1875 and served as director of the gallery in 1892-94. Scottish National Portrait Gallery (Print Room) UP M 175.