Insolence and Insubordination

Description

Insolence and Insubordination is a book about the convict Daniel Herbert’s legacy which lives on in the intricate carvings of Tasmania’s Ross Bridge.

Little is known about Daniel Herbert, a convict-turned-artist whose legacy lingers on the intricate carvings of Ross Bridge in Tasmania. In his time, the townsfolk knew him as a painter, fiddler, and stonemason. But beneath the surface lies a life woven with hardship, resilience, and artistry that defied his lowly status.

Born in 1802, Daniel was the fourth child of a soldier and his wife. His father’s death, just eighteen months after Daniel’s birth, left his mother to find her way back to Manchester, where the family struggled to survive. Young Daniel, seeking opportunity and perhaps adventure, soon found himself on a dark path, committing crimes that would ultimately lead to a death sentence. But fate intervened—his punishment was commuted to exile in Van Diemen’s Land, where he would begin a new, challenging chapter.

Arriving in the harsh penal colony, Daniel eventually secured a place as a stonemason, pouring his talents and soul into the sandstone bridge at Ross. His work on the bridge reveals not just technical skill, but a unique form of expression. The carvings are filled with storytelling and satire, a blend of beauty and subversion rarely seen in convict art. Through his work, Daniel subtly pushed back against the oppressive conditions around him, embedding his wit and cynicism into each carved face and figure.

Though his art stands the test of time, Daniel’s personal life remained difficult. As a laborer supporting a growing family, he faced constant financial strain, eventually ending in the shame of insolvency. The dust from his work in the Ross sandstone ultimately took its toll on his health, leading to his death at the age of sixty-seven.

In this biography, Daniel Herbert’s life unfolds in the context of history, exploring not only his struggles and achievements but also the world around him—a world that both suppressed and inspired his creativity. Through painstaking research and evocative prose, the book brings to life a man whose talent was as undeniable as the hardships he faced, inviting readers to step back in time and see the convict not merely as a prisoner, but as an artist, a rebel, and a storyteller.

Always in stock. “Printed On Demand” in Australia by Intertype