• Title
  Cabbage Trees near the Shoalhaven River, N.S.W., 1860 / Eugene von Guerard
• Creator
  Eugen von Guérard, 1811-1901
• Call number
  ML 1398
  Status: On display – Paintings from the Collection, Room 2, South Wall, no. 177
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  1860
• Type of material
  Graphic Materials, Paintings
• Reference code
  457292
• Issue Copy
  Digitised
• Physical Description
  1 painting - oil on canvas, framed - image 47 x 74 cm in frame 83 x 109 cm.
  
• Scope and Content
  This painting depicts a view of the forest at Brandy and Water Creek, with Mount Kembla in the left-hand corner. In it, von Guerard has provided a pictorial documentary of the botanical species of the area, as they were at that time, as well as evoking the density and lushness of the untouched forest. Today the painting has become important historical evidence of the original state of vegetation and appearance. When later images are compared with it, the effects of environmental change to this once extraordinary place are dramatically registered. By the late 19th century, most of the forest had been cleared and the giant 80-foot cabbage tree palms, eucalypts and ancient fig trees had been felled as coal mines and farming in the area were developed. Source: notes on ML file
• Copying Conditions
  Out of copyright: Artist died before 1955
  Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
• General note
  
  Titled from reverse
  
  This painting was taken to London by Major-General Edward Macarthur for exhibition at the London International Exhibition, 1862. This supports that contemporary opinion deemed this to be one of von Guerard's finest works, for display to an international audience.
  Source: notes on ML file
  
  Pencil drawing of the same view, entitled "Brandy and Water Creek Palm Valley Farm James Kewan 6th dec. 1859" held at DG*D 17, no. 44. Also related images in von Guerard's sketchbook, DGB 16, vol. 10, ff. 8-21 (4-18 Dec. 1859)
  Digital order no:Album ID : 866916
• Signatures / Inscriptions
  
  Signed and dated at lower left
• Subject
  Art, Colonial--Australia.
  
• Topic
  cabbage tree palms
  cedars
  controlled fires
  eucalypts
  ferns
  fig trees
  ironbarks
  land clearing (activities)
  mountains
  nettle trees
  rosewood trees
  
• Place
  Illawarra District (N.S.W.)
  Mount Kembla (N.S.W.)
  
• Exhibited in
  
  Flora - Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre
  ONE hundred : celebrating the Mitchell Library centenary - State Library of New South Wales (March, 2010 - June, 2010)
  Impact: a changing land - State Library of New South Wales
  Paintings from the Collection - State Library of New South Wales (October, 2018 - )
• Open Rosetta viewer
  IE1158843

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