Maritime History/Art History
Book Details

Maritime Paintings of Early Australia 1788-1900

Martin Terry

The first major study of an often neglected aspect of Australian painting, in a large generously-illustrated format.

Opinion

'Few books combine text and pictures so skilfully and accessibly. The discerning curator's eye is evident in the organisation by historical themes, in both selection and juxtaposition of images, and in the elegant, direct commentary on the historical context and individual works.' (John Wade, Signals Magazine)

'It will provoke your thoughts and appreciation of maritime paintings and our maritime heritage, and give hours of pleasure--in both reading the text and admiring the plates.' (John Wade, Signals Magazine)

About this Title

Throughout the European history of Australia, ships have played a role in the shaping of the nation. Ships brought convicts, emigrants and gold seekers to these shores; ships connected the colonies, and took wool and wheat 'Home'; ships took young Australians to fight in wars overseas.

It is not surprising that maritime painting in Australia began with the First Fleet and for many years reflected some of the European traditions of the genre. But Australia presented its early artists with problems and challenges that called for a different approach. For the early colonists the ocean often provoked feelings of separation and isolation. Not surprisingly, many early maritime artists painted not on the shore looking towards the sea, but on ships looking towards the shore. As the colonies became established, however, the sea also came to represent prosperity, and maritime art in Australia really began with the development of whaling and the growth of trade.

Many of the early maritime painters were intimately involved with the sea. Often they were explorers or navigators whose accurate topographical sketches were designed to identify features for their fellow mariners. Others were amateurs: soldiers, sailors, emigrants who possessed a few cakes of watercolour and the time to pursue an enjoyable pastime. But throughout the nineteenth century the maritime scene in Australia also attracted talented professional artists who are better known today for their landscapes. As this book reveals, some of the finest works by Australian impressionist painters took as their subjects ships and the sea.

About the Author

The author:

Martin Terry, a graduate of the University of Sydney and long interested in Australian colonial art, has been Curator, Exploration, of the Australian National Maritime Museum since 1987.

978-0-522-84688-1