LYCETT, Joseph
(c.1775-1828)

English landscape and miniature painter.
Convicted of forgery at the Shropshire Assizes on 10 August 1811, and transported to NSW for 14 years; arrived in Sydney on board the convict transport General Hewitt on 7 February 1814. Lycett worked as a clerk in the Police Office ands was again convicted of forgery in 1815, and sent to Newcastle penal settlement. He worked here as an artist for the Commandant, Major James Wallis (c.1785-1858), and soon came to the attention of Governor Macquarie.

Lycett returned to Sydney late in 1818, or early 1819, signalling the end of his sentence for the forgeries of 1815. He received vice-regal permission to travel in New South Wales and, possibly Van Diemen's Land, executing various artisitic commissions; some of these were forwarded by Macquarie to Lord Bathurst. When Lycett executed his views there is a strong likelihood that he relied heavily upon drawings prepared by Deputy Surveyor-General George William Evans and Major James Taylor. Both these men were accomplished amateur artists who accompanied the governor on various vice-regal tours, including a visit to Van Diemen's Land in 1821. Despite the large volume of painting undertaken for the Governor, there is no record in any of the colonial accounts to indicate that Lycett ever received any payment. However, on 28 November 1821, during the last days of Macquarie's governorship, Lycett finally received an Absolute Pardon.

Lycett left Sydney, with two daughters, Mary Ann and Emma, on board the Shipley on 8 September 1822. In London he arranged for his colonial views to be published, firstly, in twelve issues of four drawings from July 1824; and, secondly, in 1825 issued as a single bound volume entitled Views in Australia.

Died: 9 February 1828 from medical complications following an unsuccessful attempt at cutting his own throat.

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References:
The Dictionary of Australian Artists Online [see entry: 'Lycett'].
Joseph Lycett: convict artist. (ed.) John McPhee. Sydney: Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, 2006.
McCormick, Tim. First Views of Australia 1788-1825: a History of Early Sydney. Sydney: David Ell Press, 1987.
Turner, John. Joseph Lycett: Governor Macquarie's convict artist. Newcastle: Hunter History Publication, 1997.

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