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Collection

An image of Sentry-box Reach, Hawkesbury River, New South Wales by Julian Ashton

Julian Ashton

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

Title
Sentry-box Reach, Hawkesbury River, New South Wales
Other titles:
Sentry Box Reach [1948]
Place of origin
Hawkesbury River → Sydney → New South Wales → Australia
Year
1886
Media category
Watercolour
Materials used
pencil, watercolour, scraping out on paper
Dimensions

59.7 x 92.4cm sheet

Signature & date
Signed l.l., brown watercolour "J.R. ASHTON". Dated l.r., "1884".
Credit
Gift of Howard Hinton 1924
Accession number
22
Location
Not on display
Further information

Ashton's 'Sentry-box Reach' was painted when he was a staff artist for The picturesque atlas of Australasia; a position which allowed him to travel widely. The Hawkesbury soon became a favourite haunt for painting. He returned to it frequently with artist friends. 'Sentry-box Reach' is a classic example of nineteenth-century British watercolour technique – transparent washes of watercolour over barely perceptible pencil outlines, occasionally with some minor scraping out for highlights. It is a particularly convincing study of the expanse and conditions of the Hawkesbury landscape.

Bibliography (9)

Julian Ashton, Now came still evening on, Sydney, 1941, 51.

Caroline Clemente, Australian watercolours 1802-1926: in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria 1991, Melbourne, 1991, 71 (illus.).

Dinah Dysart, Julian Ashton 1851-1942 1982, Sydney, 1982, 4, 21 (illus.). not exhibited

R.H. Goddard, Lionel Lindsay and C.B. Newling, A memorial volume to Howard Hinton patron of art, Sydney, 1951, 91 (colour illus.). cat.no. 53

Joclyn Howell and Joclyn Howell, Riverside Plants of the Hawkesbury-Napean 1995, Sydney, 1995, cover. PS Worksheet 400

Hendrik Kolenberg, Australian watercolours 1880s to 1990s 1995, 'Introduction: Painting in watercolour', pg. 8-16, Sydney, 1995, 2-3 (colour illus.), 8-9, 17 (colour illus.), 113. cat.no. 1. The colour illustration on pages 2-3 is a detail of the image.

Hendrik Kolenberg, Nineteenth century Australian watercolours from the collection 1991, Sydney, 1991. cat.no. 4

Lionel Lindsay, Howard Hinton memorial exhibition 1948, 'Howard Hinton, OBE', pg. 2-3, Sydney, 1948, 10. cat.no. 53; titled 'Sentry Box Reach'

Editor Unknown (Editor), The Sydney Morning Herald 27 Oct 1884, 'Art exhibition', Sydney, 27 Oct 1884. page unknown

Exhibition history (4)

Seventh Annual Exhibition Art Society of New South Wales (1886), Sydney Town Hall, Australia, 17 Apr 1886 -

Howard Hinton memorial exhibition (1948), National Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 13 Apr 1948–30 Apr 1948

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

Australian watercolours 1880s to 1990s: