The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Folingsby, George Frederick
Folingsby, George Frederick, was born in Ireland in 1830, but went, when young, to America, where he commenced his artistic career by contributing illustrations to Harper's Magazine. Subsequently he studied for six years at the Munich Academy, and after a varied artistic experience on the continent of Europe, settled at Munich, where he remained for twenty-five years, painting pictures which were exhibited in the principal galleries of Europe. In 1880 he visited Victoria at the request of the trustees of the National Gallery in Melbourne, of which he was subsequently appointed director, a post which he held till his death. The collection contains his painting of Henry VIII. and Anne Boleyn; but his work in Australia was mainly confined to portraiture. He died in Melbourne on Jan. 4th, 1891.