Australian Art in the 1870s

Free entry

NGV International

Ground Level

29 Oct 76 – 21 Nov 76

Australian Art in the 1870s is an exhibition showing a particular decade in detail. A decade which is important to the Art Gallery of New South Wales as it was during this time that the Gallery was founded, though not on its present site.

Within this exhibition, among the paintings three artists are represented who have become familiar figures in the history of Australian art: Louis Buvelot, Eugene von Guérard and W. C. Piguenit. Whether it be the sometimes exalted romanticism of von Guérard, the more intimate expression of Australian landscape by Buvelot or the often atmospheric interpretation by the Australian born Piguenit, each has made a considerable contribution to Australian landscape and exists in his own right irrespective of period. In this exhibition, however, their work takes its place in the background of the 1870s.

The presentation of this exhibition has been extended to include furniture, costume and silver in an attempt to give a broader view of the time.

Sourced from: Peter Laverty (Director, Art Gallery of New South Wales), ‘Foreword’, Australian Art in the 1870s, exhibition catalogue, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.