WILLIAM Charles Piguenit (1836-1914) was said by William Moore, an early historian of Australian art, to be the first native-born professional artist in this country, while fellow historian and critic Bernard Smith pointed out that he was also the last of our colonial artists. As to his Australian pedigree, not only was he born in this country but to a convict father transported for receiving stolen government property, although Frederick Le Geyt Piguenit - the French name reflecting his Huguenot origins - came from a respectable family and conducted himself in an exemplary manner after his arrival in Hobart.