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447948

Title
Series 01: Australian paintings by J.W. Lewin, G.P. Harris, G.W. Evans and others, 1796-1809
Call number
PXD 388
Level of description
series
Date

1796-1809
Type of material
Graphic Materials, Watercolours
Reference code
447948
Issue Copy
Digitised
Physical Description
32 watercolours (in 4 volumes) - various sizes
Scope and Content
NOTE: For details of the artist of each drawing, see inscriptions and notes below.

VOLUME 1
f.1. Yorkton Port Dalrymple Van Diemens Land, 1808 / J.W. Lewin. 22.7 x 32.2 cm.
f.2. A sketch...on the banks of the Paterson's River, N.S.W. intended to represent the Colonels quarters for the night, [1801] / J.W. Lewin. 24 x 34.8 cm.
f.3. A view in Colonel Patersons Garden at Yorkton Port Dalrymple, 1809 / J.W. Lewin. 22.8 x 32.3 cm.
f.4. Near Launceston Port Dalrymple, 1809 / J.W. Lewin. 23 x 32.4 cm.
f.5. The Cataract near Launceston Port Dalrymple Van D.L., 1809 / J.W. Lewin. 22.7 x 32.3 cm.
f.6. The second Cataract on the North Esk near Launceston Port Dalrymple, 1809 / J.W. Lewin. 22.8 x 32.3 cm.
f.7. St. Phillips [ie Philips] Church Sydney, 1809 / G.W. Evans. 10.5 x 20.6 cm.

VOLUME 2
f.1. The Ground Parrot of New South Wales, [n.d.] / [J.W. Lewin]. 23.6 x 23.6 cm.
f.1a. Titmouse, [n.d.]. / R. Dobson. 22.3 x 22 cm.
f.2. Hibiscus heterophyllus, 1802 / J.W. Lewin. 30.8 x 23.1 cm.
f.3. One of the Leguminosae, 1802 / J.W. Lewin. 25.2 x 19.5 cm.
f.4. Grevillea, [n.d.]. / [J.W. Lewin]. 34.4 x 23.2 cm.
f.5. Orchid, [n.d.]. / J.W. Lewin. 29.2 x 21.4 cm.
f.6. A Bengal Cow and her calf...Launceston..., 1809 / J.W. Lewin. Image 15.1 x 23.6 cm. inside frame lines, on sheet 17.5 x 25.4 cm.

VOLUME 3
f.1. A view of Sydney N.S.Wales on entering the Heads the distance of Seven Miles, [1809?] / [attributed to G.W. Evans]. 22.5 x 36.1 cm.
f.2. A view of part of Port Jackson from Dawes's Point Sydney Cove, [1809?] / [attributed to G.W. Evans]. 22 x 36 cm.
f.3a. Government House, Sydney, [1809?] / [attributed to G.W. Evans]. Image 9.6 x 16 cm. mounted on backing 10.7 x 17.2 cm.
f.3b. Government House, Parramatta, 1805, [1809?] / [attributed to G.W. Evans]. Image 9.6 x 16 cm. mounted on backing 10.2 x 17.3 cm.
f.4. Government House Parramatta N.S.Wales, 1809 / [attributed to G.W. Evans]. 22.5 x 34.6 cm.
f.5. The landing place at Parramatta, Port Jackson, [1809?] / [attributed to G.W. Evans]. 22 x 34 cm.
f.6. A view of part of Parramatta Port Jackson, [1809?] / [attributed to G.W. Evans]. 21.7 x 34.2 cm.
f.7. The Settlement on the Green Hills, Hawksburgh [ie Hawkesbury] River N.S.Wales, 1809 / [attributed to G.W. Evans]. 23.8 x 36.7 cm.

VOLUME 4
f.1. Tringa. Wattled Sandpiper [Masked lapwing], 1806 / G.P. Harris. 24.3 x 20.5 cm.
f.2. Falco. Van Diemen Hobby, [n.d.] / G.P. Harris. 24.2 x 19.9 cm.
f.3. Alcedo. Three-toed Kingfisher, 1806 / G.P. Harris. 21.9 x 20 cm.
f.4. Pipra. M. & F. Speckled Manakins, 1806 / G.P. Harris. 24.3 x 18.8 cm.
f.5. Strix. Little spotted owl, 1806 / G.P. Harris. 23.4 x 21.1 cm.
f.6. Tetrao. Quail No.1, 1806 / G.P. Harris. 23.6 x 20 cm.
f.7. The Carrajan, [n.d.] / [attributed to Mrs Bellasis]. 25.5 x 19 cm.
f.8a. [Flowering plant, n.d.]. / [by E. Grose]. 13.7 x 19 cm.
f.8b. The Egg of the New South Wales Pheasant, [n.d.]. 11.3 x 15.2 cm.
f.9. Two islands of Ice ..., 1796. Image 19.3 x 36.5 cm. above caption, on sheet 24.6 x 36.5 cm
Copying Conditions
Out of copyright: Creator died before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
General note

VOLUME 1
f.1 signed and dated in ink on reverse `G.P. Harris del 1809 Copyed by Jn. W. Lewin 1809'.
A detached caption, inscribed in pencil `By Lewin after Harris 1800', accompanies vol.1 f.1.
ff.3-6 signed and dated in ink on reverse `G.P. Harris delt 1808 Copyed by Jn.W. Lewin 1809'.
ff.1-6 titled on accompanying scrapbook leaf.
f.7 dated and titled on accompanying scrapbook leaf, with further note `named after the first Governor'.
f.7 signed `G. W. Evans delt.' in ink on reverse at lower right. This watercolour was previously recorded as unsigned and was attributed to Lewin because others in the album are by Lewin after G.P. Harris. Evans' signature was uncovered by removal of a backing sheet during conservation treatment in 1987, negating the earlier attribution.

VOLUME 2
f.1 unsigned and undated. Title, followed by note reading `drawn by Lewin', written in ink on accompanying scrapbook leaf.
f.1a signed `R. Dobson' in image above base of branch
f.2 signed and dated `I.W. Lewin. 1802. N.S.W.' at lower left. In lower left corner is a detailed sketch of a flower part.
f.3 signed and dated `I.W. Lewin. 1802. N.S.W.' at lower centre. At lower left and lower right are detailed sketches in grey wash of two flower parts.
f.4 unsigned; on scrap-book leaf to which sketch is attached is a note `by Lewin'. Undated. Untitled; title from list in portfolio. Along lower edge are four detailed wash sketches of flower parts. On the back of the scrapbook leaf is a watercolour sketch of a bird and flowers, signed `R. Dobson', but undated and untitled.
f.5 signed `I.W. Lewin. New South Wales' at lower right. Undated.
f.2-5 untitled; titles from list in portfolio.
f.6 signed and dated `I.W. Lewin 1809' at lower right. Titled on scrapbook leaf to which sketch is attached.

VOLUME 3
ff.1-7 are unsigned. Most are similar to views by or attributed to G. W. Evans and seem to be copies of them. The style is similar to that of Evans and it seems likely that the watercolours are by him and that most, if not all of them are later copies by him of his own paintings. See notes filed at PXn 265.
ff.1, 2, 4-7 titled on accompanying scrapbook leaf.
ff. 1-3b, 5 and 6 are undated; dated from ff.4 and 7, which are dated on accompanying scrapbook leaf.
f.1 is very similar to `Sydney Harbour', an undated watercolour signed `G.W. Evans' (DG 153). It seems likely that the drawing in this volume is a later copy by Evans of his own work.
f.2 is very similar to another watercolour, `A View of Part of Port Jackson...1807' held by ANZ Bank, a b&w photo of which is held at SPF/Sydney - Harbour & Islands, 1807.
Two hand-coloured plates from Lewin's Insect book were taken from the reverse of the scrapbook leaf accompanying vol.3 ff.3a-b and placed with others in a portfolio with Printed Books
f.3a is untitled; titled from comparison with other illustrations of Government House.
f.3b is almost identical to `Govnt. House...1805', a watercolour signed `G.W. Evans' (ML 140). Undated; title date from ML 140; date of drawing from others in this volume.
f.5 is similar to `Parramatta' (SV1B/Parr/9), a watercolour also attributed to Evans, but this sketch shows more detail and may be a later copy.
f.7 is similar to `Windsor, Head of Navigation...' (SV1B/Wind/6), a watercolour also attributed to Evans, though this sketch appears to be a later copy as it is more detailed.

VOLUME 4
f.1 signed and dated `G.P. Harris. delt. 1806' at lower right.
f.2 signed `G.P. Harris delt.' at lower left. Undated.
ff.3-6 signed and dated `G.P. Harris delt. 1806' at lower left.
ff.1-6 titled along upper edge.
On reverse of vol.4 f.5 is a wash drawing of a quill pen resting on an open book.
f. 7 unsigned, undated; title and attribution to Mrs. Bellasis from note on accompanying scrapbook leaf.
f.8a unsigned, undated, untitled. On scrapbook leaf to which sketch is attached is a note reading `by E. Grose'.
f.8b unsigned, undated. Titled from scrapbook leaf to which the sketch is attached.
f.9 unsigned. Dated and titled from inscription beneath drawing.

It has been suggested that these albums were compiled by Lieut. Gov. William Paterson, who was in NSW from 1791 (apart from a break between 1796-1799) to 1810. See Early artists of Australia / Rex and Thea Rienits. Sydney : Angus & Robertson, 1963. The sketches when acquired by the Library were in a scrapbook which contained also fourteen plates from Lewin's insect book, fifteen plates from Martyn's conchology, and seven plates from a butterfly book. All the plates were extracted and catalogued for Printed Books catalogue. On the verso of the scrapbook leaves were prints from the Victorian era; these were left in place. Leaves to which the sketches were attached have been left with the sketches as many of them had contemporary titles written on them.
Digital order no:Album ID : 823548
Signatures / Inscriptions

VOLUME 1
f.2 "A Sketch by Lewin taken on the banks of Paterson River N.S.W. intended to represent the Colonels quarters for the night. The Colonel first discovered the river so named and is the figure leaning on his arm" -- inscribed in ink on reverse of scrapbook leaf accompanying vol.1 f.2
f.7 "The Front of Sydney Church / New South Wales. 1809." -- inscribed in ink on reverse at top left

VOLUME 2
f.6 "A Bengal Cow, and her Calf / English cross, one year old. Launceston, P. Dal." -- inscribed in ink on reverse of scrapbook leaf accompanying vol.2 f.6

VOLUME 3
f.2 "An East View of part of Port Jackson / from the West side of Sydney Cove called Dawe's Point / New South Wales - 1809" -- inscribed in ink on reverse at top left
f.7 "The Green Hills from the / [word cut off at left edge of page?] of the Hawkesbury River. / New South Wales 1809" -- inscribed in ink on reverse at top left

VOLUME 4
f. 2 "Ralphs Bay, Table Mountain and River Derwent V.D. Land from Betsys Island. N.B. The Smoke shews the situation of the settlement at Hobart Town" -- note along lower edge at right
f.4 "Hunters Island & the Derwent from Hospital Hill - Hobart Town" -- note at lower right
f.6 "Mt. Direction River Derwent V.D. Land" -- note at lower right edge, vol.4 f.5
"View of mountains near the S. Cape River Huon -" -- note at lower right
f.7 "The Carrajan by Mrs. Bellasis. Sydney. The shrub from the bark of which the natives make their fishing lines." -- note on scrapbook leaf accompanying vol.4 f.7
f.9 "Two islands of Ice supposed to be connected together under water; seen 23rd: december 1796 in latitu[de]50 45's. Their distance from the ship were three miles. The height of the largest appeared to be two hundred and eighty feet and its circumference near two miles." -- caption along lower edge beneath frame lines
Conservation note

In 1992 the watercolours were removed from acidic board and the secondary supports with contemporary inscriptions retained.

Watercolours have been separated from the scrapbook leaves to which they were originally attached and remounted in window mounts. The scrapbook leaf accompanying each drawing is kept in a sleeve on reverse of mount.
Creator/Author/Artist
Lewin, J. W. (John William), 1770-1819
Evans, George William, 1780-1852
Harris, George Prideaux Robert, 1775-1810
Bellasis, Mrs.
Dobson, R.
Subject
St. Philip's Church (Sydney, N.S.W.)
Birds--Pictorial works.
Kingfishers--Pictorial works.
Ornithological illustration--Australia.
Parrots--Australia--Pictorial works.
Botanical illustration--Australia.
Topic
camps
churches
cliffs
colonial art
cows
eggs
engravings
falcons
gardens
grevilleas
harbours
hibiscus
icebergs
landscapes (views)
manakins
orchids
owls
quails
rapids
rivers
sailing ships
Place
Dawes Point (N.S.W.)
Derwent River (Tas.)
Government House (Bridge St., Sydney, N.S.W.)
Hawkesbury River (N.S.W.)
Hobart (Tas.)
Mount Direction (Tas.)
Old Government House (Parramatta, N.S.W.)
Parramatta (N.S.W.)--Pictorial works.
Paterson River (N.S.W.)
Port Dalrymple (Tas.)
Ralphs Bay (Tas.)
South Cape (Tas.)
Sydney Harbour (N.S.W.)
Table Mountain (Tasmania)
Windsor (N.S.W.)
Exhibited in

A Rage for Curiosity - State Library of New South Wales (1 September, 1997 - 11 January, 1998). Applies to: vol.1 f.2, vol.3 ff.1,2,4,7, vol.4 f.1
The coming of the strangers : life in Australia, 1788-1822 - State Library of New South Wales (January 1988 - December 1988). Applies to: vol.1 f.2, vol.3 f.1
Mutiny on the Bounty : the story of Captain William Bligh seaman, navigator, surveyor and of the Bounty mutineers - State Library of New South Wales. Applies to: vol.3 ff.2,3a-b,7
Undercurrents - Parramatta Heritage Centre (October 2003 - January 2004). Applies to: vol.3 f.6
The Artist and the patron - Art Gallery of New South Wales (February 1988 - May 1988). Applies to : vol.3 f.7
In the garden - Parramatta Heritage Centre. Applies to: vol.3 ff.3b,6
The work of art - Australian women writers and artists - State Library of New South Wales (August 1995 - February 1996). Applies to: vol.4 f.7
The Rocks area, nineteenth century Sydney - S.H. Ervin Museum and Art Gallery (March 1981 - April 1981). Applies to: vol.3 f.2
On the Run. Daring Convict Escapes - State Library of New South Wales (November 2006 - February 2007). Applies to: Vol.3 nos.3;7
Women Transported : Life in Australia's Convict Female Factories - Parramatta Heritage Centre (August 2008 - November 2010). Applies to: vol.3 no.6
The Governor: Lachlan Macquarie, 1810 to 1821 - State Library of New South Wales (July 2010 - October 2010). Applies to: vol. 3, f.3a, f.3b, f.7
Mari Nawi : Aboriginal Odysseys 1790-1850 - State Library of New South Wales (September 2010 - December 2010). Applies to: vol. 3 no. 7
Lewin: Wild Art - State Library of New South Wales (March 2012 - October 2012). Applies to: Vol.1 no. 1,3,4,6,7 ; Vol.2 nos. 1 - 6
Australia - Royal Academy of Arts (Great Britain) (September 2013 - December 2013). Applies to: vol.3 no.1
Planting Dreams: Shaping Australian Gardens - State Library of New South Wales (September 2016 - January 2017). Applies to: vol.2, f. 2 and vol. 1 f.3