[Heathfield, Woods Avenue, Woollahra, ca. 1898 / watercolour by William Tibbits, together with artist's business card]

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PXB 1714

fonds

[ca. 1877-1898]

Graphic Materials, Drawings

1005832

2 drawings - watercolour, ink - 53 x 68 cm or smaller

William Tibbits (1837-1906), watercolourist, was born in England in 1837, and arrived in Victoria ca. 1866. In 1877, Tibbits moved to a residence at 74 Albert Street, Windsor, Victoria. From about this time, private residences and properties were his primary subject matter. Tibbits moved to Sydney in 1896, where he spent his remaining years painting until his death in 1906.

Heathfield was one of the earliest houses in the Wallis/Nelson Street area of Woollahra, being in existence since 1871. By 1897, Heathfield estate was subdivided into 29 lots, the drive becoming Woods Avenue. The leasehold of the house and the surrounding 8 lots was taken up by Thomas Baras, who resided at Heathfield from 1899-1903.

Reference:
Library correspondence file
Design & Art Australia, https://www.daao.org.au (accessed 9 August 2017)
Heathfield Woollahra, Local History Centre, Woollahra Library http://www.woollahra.nsw.gov.au/ (accessed 9 August 2017)

Originally owned by Thomas Baras, Esq. lessee of Heathfield, 1897-1914, and Ellen Matilda Baras from 1914. Thomas Barras is likely to have commissioned Tibbits to paint the newly built estate in ca. 1898.

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Item 01: A watercolour view of the subdivision on Woods Avenue, Woollahra, ca. 1898. Unsigned. Shows Woods Avenue leading up to Heathfield house, just after the subdivision of the estate took place in 1897. In the foreground is Wallace Street, with gate posts and fountain at the entrance to Woods Avenue.

PXB 1714
Item 02: [Colonial Residence with Passing Coach], painted on business card of William Tibbits, ca. 1877-1898, with text listing the artist's services and address. Unsigned.

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

Title of watercolour on business card from: Davidsons Auctions, Australian & International Art, Catalogue, Sunday 29 March 2015.

Watercolours unsigned. Business card inscribed: "Mr W Tibbits Landscape painter Specialty Water Colour Sketches. Executes views of Private Residences to which Drawn and Coloured from Nature possess the advantages of unfading beauty and correct perspective. Address: 74 Albert St Windsor near St Kilda Junction. Exquisite miniatures - colour or monotone."

Attribution to Wiliam Tibbits is based on provenance and vendor information.

Dates from vendor and based on arrival of Tibbits in Sydney, the subdivision of Heathfield estate and Tibbits period of residence in Windsor, Victoria.

Business card was deframed and mounted.