COSTANTINI, Charles 1803–1860
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Title
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COSTANTINI, Charles 1803–1860
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Description
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A surgeon, thief, probably a forger, Costantini (also known as Constantine, Constantini and Costantine) served back-to-back sentences of transportation to NSW in the 1820s and VDL in the 1830s. Born in Paris of Italian heritage, between the late-1830s and mid-1850s Costantini produced some 60 portraits and landscapes, mainly in watercolour, including "portraits in the most correct style" and "often for clients of middling or ex-convict stock".
In 1852 he painted the Billet/Bellette family of Sorell – George, Jemima and seven of their eleven children (purchased by the National Portrait Gallery in 2016). In 1855 Costantini painted a landscape watercolour of 'Rosy Vanyan, Forcett. Property of Mr Jas Rollings' and a portrait of Adam and Caroline Newitt.
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Biographical text
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The National Portrait Gallery describes Charles Henry Theodore Costantini as a Paris-born surgeon of Italian descent who was twice transported to the Australian colonies. In 1823, convicted of theft, he was banished to New South Wales for life but served only two years before being granted a pardon. Shortly after his return to England he was convicted of theft again and sent to Van Diemen’s Land, arriving in Hobart in 1827. 'Disposed to be very troublesome', Costantini re-offended and was sent to the penal station at Macquarie Harbour, where the camp commandant employed him to make sketches. At Port Arthur from 1831, he worked as an assistant surgeon. He gained his freedom in March 1834 and by 1838 was in Launceston, advertising his availability for the execution of 'portraits in the most correct style'.
Between 1938 and the mid-1850s, Costantini produced some 60 portraits and landscapes, mainly in watercolour, and often for clients of middling or ex-convict stock. George Billet, a farmer and landowner at Sorell, was the son of convicts, as was his wife Jemima. Costantini's portrait shows them with seven of the eleven children Jemima had between 1836 and 1858. In the 1855 landscape of Jas Rolling's property ‘Rosy Vanyan’ at Forcett, much of the foliage is carefully drawn, the view "foregrounded with cattle and the image of the riflewielding landowner surveying his domain from the fence". An undated portrait of Mary Reardon (Stacey) of Sorell was likely painted at a similar time.
Costantini left Tasmania around 1857, was in Hawaii by 1858 and died there in 1860.
An 1855 group portrait by Costantini titled Children of William and Elizabeth Newitt of 'Green Hills' Orielton. Tasmania has the family names written later on the back: "Phoebe Born 1846 June 28th, Died 1915 Oct 15th; William (Jun) Born April 27th 1841 Died Dec 27th 1934; Harriotte Born 1844 Oct 28th Died 1919 July 11th” and was exhibited in "Island exile: CHT Costantini" at the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts, Hobart in 1997.
Original artworks by Costantini are rare and remain valuable.
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Family name
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Costantini
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Given name
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Charles Henry Theodore
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Date of birth
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1803
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Birthplace
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France
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Gender
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Male
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Occupation
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Surgeon
Portrait and landscape artist
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Date of death
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1860
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Contributor
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National Portrait Gallery
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Creator
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Melinda Reed
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Source or reference
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National Portrait Gallery – Billet family of Sorell by Costantini c1852
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COSTANTINI'S CONVICTIONS by Joanna Gilmour, 23 March 2017
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National Portrait Gallery – CHT Costantini biography
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Libraries Tasmania – Tasmanian Archives Research File – Costantine, Charles Henry Theodore
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Libraries Tasmania – Convicts Record – Costantine, Charles Henry Theodore
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Libraries Tasmania – Portrait of Mary Reardon (Stacey) by CHT Costantini c1850s, watercolour on card
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Libraries Tasmania – The Newitt children of Green Hills, Orielton, Tasmania c1857
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Libraries Tasmania – Catalogue of 'Island Exile : CHT Costantini' exhibition, curated by Heather Curnow, held at the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts, State Library of Tasmania, 1 August-7 November, 1997
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Recent sold prices of Costantini artworks
ROSY VANYON
Sorell Heritage Study 1996 - ROSY VANYON
BELLETTE, George 1812–1885
BELLETTE, Jemima 1812–1885
