This exhibition provides the context for some major acquisitions in recent years of important nineteenth century Australian works on paper - by John Lewin, Conrad Martens, John Skinner Prout, Eugene von Guerard, Louis Buvelot, Tom Roberts and John Russell.
The Gallery is not as well known for its early nineteenth century works as those from the 1880s and 1890s, but Lewin's depiction of the giant lily and lizard, native to New South Wales, is nevertheless rare and exceptional, as are many of the watercolours of Conrad Martens and John Skinner Prout in the collection. The first watercolour drawing by Eugene von Guerard to be purchased for the Gallery (in 2003) is included - a specatcular panoramic view of the Victorian landscape at Lilydale with the Dandenongs in the distance, Also included are Tom Roberts's study of Arthur Streeton from life, for his painted portrait Smike Streeton age 24 and a surprisingly unknown but powerful sheet of head studies of Vincent van Gogh by John Russell, Arthur Streeton's Blue Mountain tunnel and Julian Ashton's A solitary ramble.
This is fourth in the series devoted to the Gallery's permanent collection of Australian works on paper and will be accompanied by a fully illustrated book.
Admission free. |
