Edward Opie b. 1809

Also known as Mr Opie, Edward Andrew Opie
  • Artist (Painter)
Painter, scene-painter, theatre director and actor. Born in England he arrived in Australia in 1839 and worked throughout South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania. He reputedly broke his right arm soon after his arrival and had to learn to paint with his left. He is not known to have signed his paintings and few have been located.
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creator of
(New and Historical Scenery)
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For Barry Sullivan’s performance of Richard III at the Melbourne Theatre Royal.

 
creator of
Redecoration of the Royal Victoria Theatre at Hobart Town.
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creator of
Theatre decoration
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Weatherboard theatre, Geelong.

 
creator of
Reproduction of the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London
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creator of
Ornamental and decorative designs for the reopening of the old Queen's Theatre as the Royal Victoria Theatre
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creator of
Royal Victoria Theatre refurbishment.
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creator of
(Views of the Sacramento River and the Bay of San Francisco)
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Royal Adelaide Theatre 1849 Christmas pantomime.

 
creator of
Decorations and drop-scene for Royal Adelaide Theatre
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creator of
Small oils
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painted for Captain James Cain before 1848, when Cain died.

 
creator of
Theatre decoration
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New Queen’s Theatre, Adelaide redecorated in 'the Parisian style’.

 
creator of
(Panorama of Adelaide views)
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creator of
(Melbourne)
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Several paintings of Melbourne for William Hull who intended sending them to England. The description matches a set of six small oils, owned and inscribed in 1850 by William Hull’s son Henry Notley. The paintings, five of which are on mattress-ticking, include views of Flagstaff Hill, the Queen’s Wharf and breakwater, a Gothic Revival cottage in a rural setting (possibly the Hull’s own home) and the Treasury 'with Native Troopers’.

 
creator of
St George's Club banner.
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creator of
Painting of Melbourne's grand Separation Banquet.
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creator of
(Portrait of Coppin in the role of Billy Barlow)
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creator of
Drop-scene 'View of King Island and the Wreck of the Cataraqui'
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Displayed between two plays at the Theatre Royal on 25 September 1845.

 
creator of
Theatre decoration
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Redecorated the Royal Victoria at Hobart Town in 'Louis Quatorze style’.

 
creator of
The New Port, Adelaide, South Australia
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creator of
A View of the City from North Terrace
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References [<ExternalResource: (30 April 1846), Sentinel.>, <ExternalResource: (15 February 1842), South Australian News.>, <ExternalResource: Bagot, A. (1965), 'Coppin the Great', Melbourne, Vic.>, <ExternalResource: Carroll, A. (1981), 'Graven Images in the Promised Land', Art Gallery of South Australia catalogue, Adelaide, SA.>, <ExternalResource: Colligan, Mimi (2002), 'Canvas Documentaries', Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, Vic.>, <ExternalResource: (1888), 'Garryowen', The Chronicles of Early Melbourne, Volume 2, Melbourne, Vic. [facsimile reprint, no date].>, <ExternalResource: Jensen, E. & Jensen, R. (1980), 'Colonial Architecture in South Australia', Melbourne, Vic.>, <ExternalResource: Webby, E. (1992), 'Companion to Theatre and Dance in Australia', Sydney, NSW [Parsons, P. (ed.)].>, <ExternalResource: Wilson, S.C. & Borrow, K.T. (1973), 'The Bridge over the Ocean', Adelaide, SA.>, <ExternalResource: Wood, C. (1971), 'Dictionary of Victorian Painters', Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK.>, <ExternalResource: (20 June 1845), Port Phillip Patriot.>, <ExternalResource: Oppenheim, Helen (1824), 'Colonial theatre: The rise of the legitimate stage in Australia 1824-1847', Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW (manuscript).>, <ExternalResource: (21 April 1846), Port Phillip Herald.>, <ExternalResource: (1847), Port Phillip Patriot Almanac.>, <ExternalResource: Information sourced from Thomson, J.>, <ExternalResource: Information sourced from Neville, R.>, <ExternalResource: Information sourced from Lennon, Jane.>, <ExternalResource: Information sourced from Bruce, Candice.>, <ExternalResource: Information sourced from Harris, Helen D.>]