Ghost gums
1948
Medium
watercolour over pencil
Measurements
(48.6 × 37.3 cm) (image)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through the NGV Foundation by Rob Gould, Governor, 2000
© Gayle Quarmby (nee Battarbee)
Gallery location
Gallery 8
Level 2, NGV Australia
About this work
In 1934 Rex Battarbee visited the Northern Territory, where he and fellow artist John Gardner showed their watercolour paintings to the Hermannsburg Mission School. Among the locals was Albert Namatjira, who quickly expressed strong enthusiasm for the medium. Battarbee moved to Hermannsburg permanently and taught Namatjira and other local artists the art of watercolour, giving rise to the Aranda School of watercolourists. In 1937 Battarbee exhibited several works by Namatjira in an exhibition of his own work in Adelaide. During the Second World War, he was charged with overseeing the community of Hermannsburg, and would continue to embark on painting expeditions out bush with Namatjira.
Artwork Details
Inscription
inscribed in orange watercolour (in image) l.r.: REX BATTARBEE 1948
Accession Number
2000.249
Department
Australian Prints & Drawings
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of the Joe White Bequest