An original pen and ink drawing of Australian Aborigines beside a temporary bark shelter, 1860-1870 / Fred Elliott

P2/555

fonds

1860-1870

1001596

1 drawing - pen, ink - 12.3 x 19 cm on sheet 17 x 22.5 cm

1 pen and ink drawing depicting two Indigenous Australians outside a temporary bark shelter. A female figure is seated at left, smoking a pipe. The standing figure at right wears a cast off European shirt and holds a traditional barbed fishing spear. Both figures are drawn in profile and are heavily silhouetted. In the foreground are two small dogs and a campfire with a billy can on the ground beside the fire. In the background is an accurately rendered depiction of an Aboriginal temporary bark shelter.

Out of copyright: Created before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Drawn on 19th century paper and appears to be removed from sketchbook.

Signed by artist `Fred Elliott'.

The item originally came from a private seller in the UK along with a pen and ink sketch of emus by Gerard Krefft, ca 1860 of similar date and size. The Krefft work has been used to date this work.