Prayer's and cursers: Moslem's pray Bullocky curse's
(c. 1969)
Medium
oil and enamel paint on composition board
Measurements
46.5 × 91.0 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through The Art Foundation of Victoria from the Bequest of Violet Dulieu, Founder Benefactor, 1997
© The Estate of Sam Byrne
Gallery location
Not on display
Artwork Details
Inscription
inscribed in pencil and overinscribed in black paint l.l.: PRAYER'S & CURSES MOSLEM'S PRAY BULLOCKY CURSE'S. inscribed in pencil and overinscribed in black paint l.r.: Sam Byrne.
Accession Number
1997.177
Department
Australian Painting
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation
Subjects (general)
History and Legend Relationships and Interactions Travel
Subjects (specific)
camel (mammal) caravans (animal-drawn vehicles) ethnicity naive art oxen praying pubs transportation
Physical description
Two different transport methods and two different customs are juxtaposed in this painting. Outback Australia was opened up for exploration and grazing through the camel which was more effective in dry country than in horse or bullock. The camels and their Muslim drivers, termed Afghans, were brought in from the Indian sub continent. The scene is of marginal wool country where bullocks take over transport from camels.