Stanfield, Clarkson (1793-1867; English) Countrymen at Dinner Pencil and watercolour on paper, 35.5 x 34.0 cm Purchased, 1877 National Gallery of Victoria (p.167.32-1) This lively illustration has a Dickensian flavour. Refs. AR 1877, p.75; NGV 1894, p.43 (II.Stawell Gallery, no.1); NGV 1905, p. 37 (II.Stawell Gallery, no.2) [£3/5] For Stanfield as a watercolourist, see Mallalieu
Smythe, Lionel (1839-1918; English) The Breadwinners 1890 Watercolour on paper, 63.5 x 48.2 cm Purchased, 1891 (advice of Hubert von Herkomer) National Gallery of Victoria (p.430.54-1) [photo: as reproduced in NGV 1905] The 1894 catalogue quotes Herkomer’s praise of the artist’s sensitive handling of this subject, indicating that the work was shown at the Royal
Smith, Carlton Alfred (1853-1946; English) Christmas Eve 1901 Watercolour on paper, 74 x 122 cm Purchased, 1901 (selected by the Royal Academy); de-accessioned and sold by auction, 1950; last auctioned 2008 Present location unknown [photo: as reproduced by Sotheby’s, March 2008] This large work was the most expensive of the 10 contemporary British watercolours bought in 1901. It
Simoni, Gustavo (1846-1926; Italian) The Marble Mosque 1879 Watercolour, 56.0 x 38.8 cm (sheet) Bequest of Alfred Felton, 1904 National Gallery of Victoria (156-2) As Gerard Vaughan observes, this exotic view, clearly reflecting 19th-century Orientalist tastes, was rather less conventional than many of the other works in Felton’s collection. The inscription, “G.Simoni.Tiemcen.79,” identifies the Algerian city
Severn, Walter (1830-1904; English) Boscastle Harbour Watercolour, c.55.88 x 129.54 cm Presented by the artist, 1885 Unidentified; present location unknown The artist, known for his topographical watercolours, was the son of Joseph Severn (1793-1879), a portrait painter who was also a friend of the poet Keats. Another large watercolour by Severn is in the AGNSW (donated
Rowan, Ellis (1848-1922; Australian) Flower painting Watercolour, c.76.2 x 54.4 cm (sheet) Purchased, 1890 Unidentified; present location unknown This is the second work by Rowan listed with this title in NGV 1894 and 1905, although only one is extant in the NGV collection (see Rowan Flower painting: Pandorea jasminoides… {1890} NGV [WT]). This example has
Rowan, Ellis (1848-1922; Australian) Flower painting: Pandorea jasminoides and Clematis aristata (c.1887) Watercolour, 74.8 x 53.1 cm (image), 76.2 x 54.4 cm (sheet) Purchased, 1890 National Gallery of Victoria (1995.325) Two watercolours by Rowan, both titled “Flower painting,” are catalogued in NGV 1894 and 1905, each work listed as bought in Melbourne in 1890, for £52/10,
Robertson, Andrew (active 1860-80; Australian?) Melbourne from the Flagstaff Hill. With Key, 1853 Watercolour on buff paper, 16.5 x 18.1 cm (watercolour); and ink on cream paper, 18 x 26 cm (key) Presented by the artist, 1880 State Library of Victoria (H273 & H274) Robertson, who also produced wood engravings for the local press (for examples,
Roberts, David (1796-1864; Scottish) Heidelberg Castle (c.1830) Watercolour over pencil with gouache, gum Arabic and sponging out, 43.6 x 32.3 cm (sheet) Bequest of Alfred Felton, 1904 National Gallery of Victoria (154-2) This work – one of the more significant examples selected from Felton’s personal collection after his death – joined Roberts St Anne, Bruges 1851
Richmond, James Crowe (1822-98; New Zealander) Lake Wanaka and Mount Aspiring, New Zealand Watercolour, c.66 x 101.6 cm Purchased, 1872 Unidentified; present location unknown The work bought for Melbourne in 1872 no longer appears to be extant in either the NGV or SLV collections. However, there is a very close correspondence in size and subject-matter
Richardson, Thomas Miles, Junior (1813-90; English) Corrie Echen, Highlands of Scotland 1880 Watercolour, 77.5 x 67.3 cm (sheet) Purchased, 1880 (advice of Alfred Thomson) National Gallery of Victoria (p.168.2-1) The artist was born in Newcastle but settled in London in 1846, and regularly exhibited his work with the Water Colour Society. In Mallalieu’s opinion, “he
Rainey, William (1852-1936; English) The Market Boat Watercolour on paper Purchased, 1901 (selected by the Royal Academy) National Gallery of Victoria (107-2) The artist worked mainly as an illustrator of children’s books and magazines. Refs. AR 1901, p.23; NGV 1905, p.78 (II.Stawell Gallery, no.169; size given as 12 x 9 inches) [£20] For details on
Pugin, Augustus Welby (1812-52; English) Oxford Watercolour and pencil, with touches of body colour, on paper, 20.2 x 26.6 cm (sheet) Purchased, 1877 (advice of Archibald Michie) National Gallery of Victoria (p.167.30-1) This picturesque view, now unfortunately somewhat yellowed, reflects the taste of the artist, best known as a Gothic Revival architect and polemicist: see
Provaggi, Cesare (c.1800-80; Italian) The Nephew Watercolour, c.17.8 x 27.9 cm Purchased, 1876 (advice of Archibald Michie) Unidentified; present location unknown See * Provaggi The Minstrel {1876} Loc? [WT]. A note in the NGV’s stock-book indicates that this work was lent to the Beechworth Library and Museum in 1910; no return date is recorded. Refs. AR
Provaggi, Cesare (c.1800-80; Italian) The Minstrel Watercolour, c.25.4 x 35.6 cm Purchased, 1876 (advice of Archibald Michie) Unidentified; present location unknown According to the 1905 NGV catalogue, this work and * Provaggi The Nephew {1876} Loc? [WT] were both bought in London by Michie, Victorian Agent-General. Views of Rome by Campi, also produced for the tourist market, were
Phillott, Constance (1842-1931; English) The Haunt of Ancient Peace Watercolour on paper, size unknown Purchased, 1871 (advice of John Ruskin) National Gallery of Victoria (p.165.5-1) Ruskin’s taste is exemplified in this unassuming watercolour, which also appears to typify the work of this artist, a member of the Royal Watercolour Society (ARWS). Refs. AR 1871, p.41;
Pedder, John (1850-1929; British) The Lame Foot Watercolour on paper, 35 x 52 cm (sight) Purchased, 1901 National Gallery of Victoria (101-2) This rustic work was one of several watercolours bought on the recommendation of the Royal Academy. The artist, apparently a landscape specialist, was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in
Parker, John (1839-1915; English) Miss Hardcastle 1889 Watercolour, c.53.5 x 38 cm Purchased, 1892; de-accessioned and sold at auction, 1950 Unidentified; present location unknown Bought from the Anglo-Australian Exhibition, Melbourne, this work was still in the NGV in 1914-15, when it was listed as on loan to the Maryborough and Mildura councils respectively. By 1950,
O’Brien, George (1821-88; Irish/New Zealander), attributed to Residence of Captain Lonsdale, Melbourne Watercolour, c.21.5 x 28 cm Presented by John Pascoe Fawkner, 1868 Present location unknown [reproduction: photo held in State Library of Victoria (H3847)] Catalogued in the early NGV records as by an un-named artist, this was one of several views of early Melbourne
O’Brien, George (1821-88; Irish/New Zealander) View from Retreat Villa, St Kilda 1862 Water-colour on paper, c.29.5 x 44.5 cm (12” x 17 ½”) Purchased, 1886 Unidentified; present location unknown This drawing does not appear to be extant in either the SLV or NGV collections. It was acquired with O’Brien View from the Junction of Barkley
O’Brien, George (1821-88; Irish/New Zealander) View from the Junction of Barkley {sic} and Princes Streets St Kilda 1862 Water-colour with ink, pencil and chinese white on toned paper, 29.5 x 44.5 cm (sheet) Purchased, 1886 State Library of Victoria (H290) This sketch, signed and dated, shows Albert Park, beyond the gates, and Port Phillip Bay in
O’Brien, George (1821-88; Irish/New Zealander) Corner of Collins Street and Swanston Street 1853 Watercolour, gouache and pencil on paper on canvas, 45.4 x 74.8 (image and sheet) Bequest of Alfred Felton, 1904 National Gallery of Victoria (158-2) Unfortunately, this large watercolour is in rather poor condition. However, the architectural details are still fairly clear, and there
O’Brien, George (1821-88; Irish/New Zealander) Melbourne taken from near the west end of Collins Street – 1840 Watercolour and pencil, 14.8 x 29.4 cm Gift of John Pascoe Fawkner, 1868 State Library of Victoria (H271) An inscription on the verso notes that the work was made for Fawkner, who presented it to the Melbourne collection in
North, John William (1842-1924; English) The Little Copse on the Hill; a Dead Rabbit 1891 Watercolour, gouache, gum Arabic and scratching out, on paper, 39.0 x 57.0 cm (sheet) Purchased, 1892 (advice of Hubert von Herkomer) National Gallery of Victoria (p.431.5-1) This minutely-observed study was bought at the same time as North An English Summer’s Day {1892}
Nash, Joseph (1809-78; English) Australian Section, International Exhibition, Hyde Park, London, 1862 1863 Watercolour on paper, 22.6 x 30.2 cm Presented by Captain F.S.de Carteret Bisson, 1881 State Library of Victoria (H5247) Prominent to the right of centre in this view of the 1862 Exhibition in the Crystal Palace is a pyramidal “pillar of gold”
Morrish, William Snell (1844-1917; English) Landscape, near Manaton, Devon 1870 Watercolour, c.20.32 x 48.26 cm Purchased, 1871 (advice of John Ruskin) Unidentified; present location unknown The artist was a member of a family of Dartmoor landscape painters. This work was presumably similar to other examples by Morrish such as the view from nearby Easdon Down reproduced
Moreton, Samuel (c.1843-1921; English/New Zealander) Sunset, Mount Earnshaw, New Zealand (1886) Watercolour, 24.5 x 49.5 cm (visible image) Presented by the artist 1886 National Gallery of Victoria (p.170.13-1) Moreton migrated to Invercargill from England in about 1862, and became a noted painter of landscapes, especially of Milford Sound and Fiordland. This work was listed in NGV
Meyerheim, Robert Gustav (1847-1920; German) ‘When the Snow and Ice are gone’ Watercolour on paper, c. 61.0 x 94.0 cm (24” x 37”) Purchased, 1891 (advice of Hubert von Herkomer); de-accessioned and sold at auction, 1950 Present location unknown [photo: as reproduced in NGV 1905] Yet another representation of cows (see e.g. Braith The Stud Herd
May, Walter William (1831-96; English) Wreck off Kentish Coast: Lugger going out Watercolour, c.51 x 76 cm Purchased, 1883 Unidentified; present location unknown This would appear to have been a substantial work. The artist specialized in marine views; examples appear regularly at auction, fetching modest prices. In a 2007 Christie’s auction catalogue, he is described as
Mather, John (1848-1916; Scottish/Australian) Wintry Weather, Yarra Glen 1895 Watercolour, 76.2 x 133.7 cm (image and sheet) Purchased, 1895 National Gallery of Victoria (15-2) NGV 1905 notes that this watercolour (now badly discoloured) was bought from the Victorian Artists’ Society, of which the artist was foundation president (1893-1900). It reveals an interestingly dispassionate view of Australia’s