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Collection

An image of A solitary ramble by Julian Ashton

Julian Ashton

(England, Australia 27 Jan 1851–27 Apr 1942)

Title
A solitary ramble
Place of origin
Richmond → Sydney → New South Wales → Australia
Year
1888
Media category
Watercolour
Materials used
watercolour, opaque white highlights on paper
Dimensions

35.5 x 25.7cm sheet

Signature & date
Signed and dated l.l., watercolour "J.R. ASHTON/ JUNE 1888".
Credit
Purchased 1888
Accession number
18
Location
Not on display
Further information

Julian Ashton was particularly adept at conveying the open spaces and clear light of the Australian landscape in his watercolours, a medium well suited to painting 'on the spot'. 'A solitary ramble' is one of the best known watercolours in the collection. Its depiction of leisured, rural life in nineteenth century Australia reflects the growing sense of national pride that was evolving in colonial society, which formed an identity closely associated with the bush.

The female figure with a parasol is the artist's wife, shown in a lane behind Griffith's Orchard in Richmond, near Sydney, NSW.

excerpt from Hendrik Kolenberg, Anne Ryan and Patricia James, '19th century Australian watercolours, drawings & pastels in the Gallery's collection', Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 2005

Bibliography (32)

Christopher Allen, The Australian financial review 09 Jun 2005, 'Worlds apart, the difference a century makes', pg. 43, Sydney, 09 Jun 2005, 43 (colour illus.).

Max Angus, A Salute to Watercolour, Tasmania, 1996, 31.

Australian Exhibition Commission, Catalogue: British Empire Exhibition (Wembley) 1924 1924, 1924, 95. no catalogue numbers; Lent by the Trustees of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales

Herbert Badham, A study of Australian art, Sydney, 1949, (illus.). plate no. 30

Herbert Badham, A gallery of Australian art, Sydney, 1954, (illus.). plate no. 11

Jane de Teliga, Australian images: Prints, drawings and watercolours from the collection 1979, Sydney, 1979, 1.

Dinah Dysart, Julian Ashton: essay on the artist (Volume I), Canberra, 1981, 47 (illus.). NOTE: this is a boxed two-volume set

Dinah Dysart, Julian Ashton 1851-1942 1982, Sydney, 1982, 2 (illus.), 4, 13. cat.no. 26

James Gleeson, Impressionist painters 1881-1930, St Kilda, 1971, 21 (colour illus.).

Anne Gray, Sydney Long: the spirit of the land 2012, 'The spirit of the land', pg. 45-70, Canberra, 2012, 62 (colour illus.), 126.

Elioth Gruner (Organiser), Catalogue of an exhibition of the works of Australian artists 1923, Sydney, 1923. cat.no. 118, Room VIII (Water Colours); not paginated

Elioth Gruner (Organiser), The exhibition of Australian art to be held at the galleries of the Royal Academy London, 1923 1923, Sydney, 1923. cat.no. 7; not paginated

Bruce James, Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook, 'Australian Collection: Works on Paper', pg. 182-197, Domain, 1999, 188 (colour illus.).

Hendrik Kolenberg., Look Apr 1991, 'Nineteenth century Australian watercolours from the collection', Domain, Apr 1991.

Hendrik Kolenberg, Australian watercolours 1880s to 1990s 1995, Sydney, 1995, 18 (colour illus.), 19, 113-114. plate no. 2

Hendrik Kolenberg, Look Apr 2005, 'Australian images from the past: whether rarely seen or familiar, these works move and delight us', pg. 24-27, Newtown, Apr 2005, 25.

Hendrik Kolenberg, 19th century Australian watercolours, drawing and pastels from the Gallery's collection 2005, 'Introduction', pg. 6-16, Domain, 2005, front dust jacket (colour illus., detail), 12, 88, 89 (colour illus.).

Hendrik Kolenberg, Nineteenth century Australian watercolours from the collection 1991, Sydney, 1991. cat.no. 3

Lionel Lindsay, 150 years of Australian art 1938, Sydney, 1938. cat.no. 321

Barry Pearce and Haruo Arikawa, Two hundred years of Australian painting: nature, people and art in the southern continent 1992, Tokyo, 1992, 96 (colour illus.). cat.no. 51

Ron Radford, Ladies in Landscapes 1974, Ballarat, 1974, (illus.). cat.no. 1; sepia toned reproduction

Royal Art Society of New South Wales, The Julian Ashton exhibition 1920, Sydney, 1920. cat.no. 126

Bernard Smith, 100 years of Australian painting 1948, 'Foreword', pg. 2-4, Sydney, 1948, 13. watercolours cat.no. 6

Bernard William Smith, Place, taste and tradition: a study of Australian art since 1788, 'Impressionism in Australia', pg. 112-145, South Melbourne, 1979, 136, 138 (illus.). plate no. 49

Bernard William Smith and Terry Smith, Australian painting 1788-1990, South Melbourne, 1991, 72 (colour illus.).

Laurie Thomas (Editor), Jubilee exhibition of Australian art 1951, Sydney, 1951, 33. cat.no. 65

Laurie Thomas (Editor), 200 Years of Australian painting, Rushcutters Bay, 1971, 15 (colour illus.).

Trustees of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australian watercolours from the National Art Gallery collection 1836 to 1946 1946, Domain, 1946, 4, 8. cat.no. 5

Sydney Ure Smith (Editor), Art of Australia 1788-1941 1941, New York, 1941, 32, 70 (illus.). cat.no. 31

Editor Unknown (Editor), The Julian Ashton book, Sydney, 1920, (colour illus.).

Editor Unknown (Editor), Art in Australia [series 3, no. 70] Mar 1938, Sydney, Mar 1938, 29 (colour illus.).

Author Unknown, Art Society of New South Wales Ninth Annual Exhibition Catalogue Sep 1888, Sydney, Sep 1888. cat.no. 22

Exhibition history (17)

Ninth Annual Exhibition of the Art Society of New South Wales (1888), Society Rooms, Union Chambers, Sydney, 1888 -

The Julian Ashton exhibition (1920), Royal Art Society of New South Wales, Lavender Bay, 13 Feb 1920–28 Feb 1920

Exhibition of Australian art (1923), Education Department Gallery [Loftus Street], Sydney, Jun 1923 -

Exhibition of Australian Art (1923), Burlington House, 06 Oct 1923–03 Nov 1923

British Empire Exhibition (1924), Empire Stadium, Wembley, 23 Apr 1924–Oct 1925

150 years of Australian art (1938), National Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 27 Jan 1938–25 Apr 1938

Art of Australia 1788-1941:

Australian watercolours from the National Art Gallery collection 1836-1946, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 24 May 1946–Jun 1946

100 years of Australian painting (1948), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 19 Apr 1948–17 May 1948

Jubilee exhibition of Australian art:

Ladies in Landscapes:

Australian images: Prints, drawings and watercolours from the collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 22 Dec 1979–28 Jan 1980

Julian Ashton, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 14 Nov 1981–31 Jan 1982

Nineteenth century Australian watercolours from the collection (1991), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 13 Apr 1991–07 Jul 1991

Two hundred years of Australian painting : Nature, people and art in the southern continent:

Australian watercolours 1880s to 1990s:

19th century Australian watercolours, drawings & pastels, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 06 Apr 2005–24 Jul 2005