[MEDICINE] Portrait of Andrew W. Nash. Newcastle, New South Wales, c.1884.

Albumen print photograph, carte de visite format, 105 x 63 mm; verso with the back mark of ‘SLADE (Late Williams), Artist in Photography, Hunter Stree, Newcastle, N.S.W.’, and a signed inscription in pencil by the sitter: ‘A. W. Nash, Australian Club, Edinburgh, Scotland. A.W.N.’; the print has some light rubbing and mottling in the negative; the is clean.

Andrew W. Nash was the son of a significant Lower Hunter identity, Dr. Andrew Nash, who was a medical officer at the Wallsend and Minmi collieries, a member of the Honorary Medical Staff of the Newcastle Hospital, and President of the Wallsend Jockey Club. His father died in a horse-riding accident in November 1885, while Andrew junior was studying medicine in Edinburgh.

We believe this portrait of Andrew junior was most likely taken in 1884 or early 1885, shortly before his departure for Edinburgh; his inscription on the back clearly shows he used it as a personal calling card while he was in Scotland. After completing his studies he returned to Australia and worked as a medical officer at the Wallsend Hospital, an institution his brother, Dr. John Brady Nash – also an Edinburgh-trained doctor and later Member of the Legislative Council – was instrumental in founding.