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C1839
Sketch in the Town of Perth. Western Australia.
Very early view of Perth showing St George’s Terrace. After Major Edmund Lockyer claimed King George Sound on Christmas Day 1826, Captain James Stirling arrived in the HMS Success to explore the Swan River. They traced the river to its … Read Full Description
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Details
Full Title:
Sketch in the Town of Perth. Western Australia.
Date:
C1839
Condition:
In good condition.
Technique:
Hand coloured copper engraving.
Image Size:
165mm
x 102mm
AUTHENTICITY
Genuine antique
dated:
1839
Description:
Very early view of Perth showing St George’s Terrace.
After Major Edmund Lockyer claimed King George Sound on Christmas Day 1826, Captain James Stirling arrived in the HMS Success to explore the Swan River. They traced the river to its source and Stirling’s positive report on the soil, climate, abundance of water and harbour, encouraged the British Government to establish a colony there. Captain Charles Fremantle was then sent in the HMS Challenger to take formal possession for Britain;
‘of all that part of New Holland which is not included in the Territory of New South Wales’.
On 2 May 1829, Fremantle hoisted the flag on the south head of the Swan River, where Fremantle now stands. Stirling arrived on 18 June and proclaimed the foundation of Perth on 12 August. Charles Dirk Wittenoom, youngest son of Reverend John Wittenoom, arrived with his family at Fremantle on 30 January 1830. Taught drawing and painting by his father, the young Wittenoom made the drawings for these etchings before 11 April 1837, when he left Fremantle to attend school in England. Obviously a talented young painter, these historic views of Perth and Fremantle, made only ten years after settlement, are an important visual record of the fledgling colony. From Nathaniel Olgle’s The Colony of Western Australia: A Manual for Immigrants.
References:
Kerr, J. The Dictionary of Australian Artists Painters, Sketchers, Photographers and Engravers to 1870 Melbourne 1992 :: p.875.
Spartlis, A. A survey of Western Australian art from 1696. Subiaco 2008 :: p.15.
Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 3602218
Art Gallery of Western Australia: Accession number 2012/0043
Kerr, J. The Dictionary of Australian Artists Painters, Sketchers, Photographers and Engravers to 1870 Melbourne 1992 :: p.875.
Spartlis, A. A survey of Western Australian art from 1696. Subiaco 2008 :: p.15.
Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 3602218
Art Gallery of Western Australia: Accession number 2012/0043
Charles Dirk Wittenoom (1824 - 1866)
Wittenoom was a sketcher and farmer born in England fifth and youngest son of Reverend John Wittenoom. He arrived with his family at Fremantle on 30 January 1830 on the Wanstead. He left Fremantle on 11 April 1837 in the Shepherd for school in England, but was back in Western Australia by 1840. On 30 March 1853 he married Sarah Elizabeth Harding in Perth and settled on a property east of York. He was taught drawing and painting by his father, the young Wittenoom made the drawings for these etchings before 11 April 1837, when he left Fremantle to attend school in England. Obviously a talented young painter, these historic views of Perth and Fremantle, made only ten years after settlement, are an important visual record of the fledgling colony. References: Kerr, J. The Dictionary of Australian Artists Painters, Sketchers, Photographers and Engravers to 1870 Melbourne 1992 p.875 Spartlis, A. A survey of Western Australian art from 1696. Subiaco 2008. p.15
