F. C. Terry
(Australia 1827–1869)
- Title
- Early Newcastle
- Year
- (circa 1853)
- Media category
- Watercolour
- Materials used
- pencil, watercolour, white gouache, scraping out
- Dimensions
-
51.1 x 91.5cm sheet
- Signature & date
- Signed l.l. corner, brown watercolour "Terry ft". Not dated.
- Credit
- Bequest of Commander Frank Gardner 1927
- Accession number
- 5709
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
Frederic Terry came to Australia from England with his elder brother Alexander in 1852. Failing as gold prospectors in the Hunter Valley, NSW, Alexander returned to England while Frederic established himself as a painter of topographical watercolours in and around Sydney and Newcastle. Commissioned by the Sydney publisher John Sands, Terry produced a series of drawings which were engraved and issued in 1854-55 as 'The Australian keepsake' (it is not Terry's name that appears on these engravings, but mistakenly 'Fleury').
The Gallery's watercolour depicts Newcastle, including Nobby's Point, as a thriving port and city. On the left is Christ Church (now the cathedral). The pair of two-storey buildings on the right were erected as Army Barracks in 1849 and later used as a women's reformatory and mental hospital. A number of ships are depicted in port, emphasizing Newcastle's importance on Australia's eastern coast. In the foreground are various figures, including an artist erecting an umbrella alongside his easel, stool and palette - perhaps a self portrait? The painting on the easel (also of Newcastle with Nobby's Head in the distance) mirrors the Gallery's watercolour.
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 (2)
-
Hendrik Kolenberg (Netherlands; Australia) (Author), Anne Ryan (Australia) (Author), Patricia James (Author), 19th century Australian watercolours, drawing and pastels from the Gallery's collection, Domain, 2005, 45 (colour illus.).
'Old Newcastle in watercolours'., Newcastle morning herald & miners' advocate 09 Dec 1961, 09 Dec 1961, (illus.).
- Exhibition history (3)
-
Regional Survey 3, Newcastle Region Art Gallery, 30 Nov 1961–17 Dec 1961.
Nineteenth century Australian watercolours from the collection (1991), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 13 Apr 1991–07 Jul 1991.
19th century Australian watercolours, drawings & pastels, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 06 Apr 2005–24 Jul 2005.
