Port Jackson from Dawes’ Battery.

John Skinner Prout (1805 - 1876)

John Skinner Prout (1805-1876) Important colonial artist born in England Prout emigrated to Australia in 1840 with his wife and seven children. He soon became involved in the colonial life as a commercial artist, lecturing and publishing his own series of lithographs titled, Sydney Illustrated and Tasmania Illustrated in 1844-1846. His time in Tasmania teaching drawing, sketching and watercolours created interest and fostered a number of colonial amateurs. He is represented in all major institutional collections. English artist, born in Plymouth, the nephew of Samuel Prout (1783-1852), whose architectural works were praised by John Ruskin. In 1828, John married Maria Heathilla Marsh in Devon. He taught himself art and dabbled in lithography. His focus was on capturing topographical views of ancient sites in western England. Moving to Sydney in 1840, he faced challenges but found success, including illustrating a journal and giving art lectures. He later visited Tasmania, where he gave popular lectures and published illustrated works. Tragedy struck with the death of his son in 1845. Prout returned to London in 1848, where he continued to promote Australian themes through lectures and publications. He died in 1876, leaving behind a significant artistic legacy. His influence on Tasmanian art was profound, inspiring a surge in landscape painting.

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