Richard William Butler (1829–1913) was the third youngest of the fifteen children born to colonial Tasmanian free settler Gamaliel Butler (1783–1852) and his wife Sarah (née Paine, 1787–1870). A London-born lawyer, Gamaliel Butler came to Hobart in 1820 for what he thought would be a visit only, but seeing opportunity in the colony he elected to stay instead. He was soon admitted as a practitioner of the Supreme Court and established his own legal firm in Hobart. He also became a significant landowner. Richard Butler was born in Hobart and, like some of his brothers, eventually joined his father's firm. Richard married his cousin Annie Eliza Larchin in England in 1859, the year these watercolours were made. Their as-yet little-known maker, Lucy Meadows, had exhibited works in the inaugural exhibition held by the Society of Female Artists in London in 1857, and was named as one of several contributors 'of heads evidencing or promising superior ability'. Meadows was singled out again for the miniatures she exhibited in the Society's show for 1858, with one reviewer stating that 'no one of these miniatures exceeds the size of a sixpenny piece, but they are all painted with surprising spirit and expression'.
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