Edward (Tiger) De Closay France, Australia, 1859-1928

Ernest 'Tiger' de Closay, was a Mauritian-born painter, etcher and commercial artist who at age 41 came from India to New South Wales in 1900. He trained in oils and watercolours. Originally he studied in Paris at the Beaux Arts French Academy under such distinguished painters as Jerome, Bougereau, and Paul Galant, later becoming the first official artist in Bombay, India. There he taught art and some of his earlier work includes oil paintings of oriental and classical subjects painted in the 1890s. He painted many Indian scenes and portraits and while in India he worked as a teacher, painter, etcher and commercial artist. After the death of his parents he moved to and settled in Sydney, where he set up a house and studio in Darlinghurst. Tiger was a designer of postcards as well as being a member of the 'Australian Painter Etchers Society', exhibiting at the third annual exhibition of the Society in Sydney in July 1923. Here he painted many nude studies, along with assorted landscapes, portraits and frescoes for churches. He also completed six full sets of travel cards and a portion of another set for the New South Wales Bookstall Co.'s 'Art Series'. These included the 'Fairy Butterfly' series and the series of postcards of state shields supported by women in classical robes. E T deClosay also completed a number of assorted works under the name Tiger.

The earliest auction listing we have for Tiger De Closay is in 1987 and in total 9 works by the artist have been offered for sale, of which 9 (100%) were sold. The highest price recorded for the artist is $2,219 for Nymph and Satyr sold by Dunbar Sloane in May 2003. No works have been offered for sale this year, and the last sale we have recorded for the artist was in 2016.