Portrait, Alderman Kennedy Smith

Portrait of Alderman Kennedy Smith

Image Courtesy of: City of a Melbourne, City Collection

"PRESENTATION TO MR. A. K SMITH.

Councillor A. K. Smith, the late mayor of Melbourne, was presented in the council chamber yesterday afternoon with a life-size portrait of himself from the Chinese inhabitants of the city. Besides a deputation of Chinamen, there were present his worship the mayor (Mr. James Paterson), about 20 aldermen and councillors of the city, and a number of influential citizens. The portrait was executed by a Chinese artist named Ah Yin. It represents Councillor A. K. Smith standing with a scroll in his right hand, and dressed in his robes of mayoralty, and it is placed in a handsome gilt frame.

The Mayor made the presentation, and in doing so said :-Gentlemen,-I have the honour, on behalf of the Chinese residents of the city, to present to the late mayor, Councillor A. K. Smith, this full length portrait of himself. I do not pretend to be a judge of paintings, but this one is considered by competent judges to be a correct likeness, as well as a work of high art. It must be very gratifying to you, sir, to receive such a valuable gift on your retirement from office from such an old and influential section of the community, and I am certain you will highly appreciate such a recognition of their esteem. I am sure all present will echo my sentiments in wishing you health, happiness, and long life to remember with pleasure this episode in your public career. (Applause.)

Councillor A, K. Smith, in reply, said :- Right Worshipful Sir,- I beg to thank you for so courteously acceding to the request made by Messrs. Kong Meng, Ti Kum, and other representatives of the Chinese citizens of Melbourne, to present me with this portrait, which in accordance with their wish I now hand over to the corporation through you, if they will please to accept of it, for the purpose of being permanently placed in this council chamber. (Applause ) In doing so, I also beg to express my high appreciation of the compliment paid to me by you, the Chinese residents of this city, and to thank you specially for the kind way in which you referred to me in your letter to the City Council. The time must come, who can tell how soon, when I must pass away to join the great majority ; until then I shall have a grateful remembrance of your personal kindness, and that by the art of your talented countrymen this likeness of my humble self will be handed down to future generations. I feel proud of your good opinion, and that I have been honoured by your acquaintance for many years, during which period I have had many opportunities of knowing your benevolence and philanthropy, and that you are humane and charitable, not only to the poor of your own country, but in a generous and cosmopolitan spirit to those of every other nation. I sincerely thank you for this portrait, and you Mr. Mayor, for the complimentary manner in which you bave made the presentation.

Alderman J. T. Smith, in a few complimentary remarks, congratulated Ah Yin on his success in producing so handsome and artistic a portrait The company then adjourned to the mayor's room, where toasts appropriate to the occasion were drunk." 

The Argus,17 November 1876, p.6.