Edwin LONG, The Babylonian maid, 1883
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Edwin LONG, The Babylonian maid, 1883 |
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Benjamin
Williams Leader, On the Thames, 1878 |
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Stanhope Alexander Forbes, The pier head, 1910 |
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Thomas Faed, Reading the Bible, 1845 |
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Nantgarw,
Cabinet cup and saucer, c1817-20 |
During the colonial and early twentieth century, British art was generally deemed to be superior to the Australian product. Galleries sought to obtain as much as they could, restricted only by their budgets. The paintings that were selected were primarily from the second half of the nineteenth century, particularly the 1870s to 1890s, as well as the first years of the twentieth century. Gallery trustees tended to be conservative in their approach, acquiring works either by popular contemporary artists connected with the Royal Academy of London or with appealing subject matter. Artists such as Stanhope Forbes, Frederick Goodall, Thomas Kennington and Benjamin Leader were acquired by a number of Australian galleries, including Geelong, while a variety of themes encompassing rural landscapes, seascapes, animal painting, social commentary, mythological subjects and those inspired by newly-discovered archaeological sites in the East were eagerly sought. Where original works could not be acquired, prints were obtained as an acceptable substitute. If the subject matter was of sufficient interest, the nationality of the artist became less important. Thus the reposing figure of The tired schoolboy 1878 by Swiss artist Albert Anker and the magnificent Danäe and the shower of gold by an admirer of Italian artist Titian, were gratefully accepted into the collection. Local collectors, many of whom were genuinely interested in the Gallery's efforts to establish a permanent collection, donated the majority of these works to the Geelong Gallery. A number of works were obtained as a result of visits to the Old Country by collectors acting on behalf of the Gallery or by the trustees themselves. In spite of this, the rather eclectic method of developing this area of the collection has resulted in a surprisingly strong and representative body of works, one which has stood firm with the test of time. |