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Collection

An image of Les aiguilles de Coton, Belle-Île by John Peter Russell
Alternate image of Les aiguilles de Coton, Belle-Île by John Peter Russell

John Peter Russell

(Australia 16 Jun 1858–30 Apr 1930)

Title
Les aiguilles de Coton, Belle-Île
Alternative title:
Port-Coton needles, Belle-Île
Year
1897
Media category
Watercolour
Materials used
watercolour, gouache
Dimensions

54.7 x 37.9cm sight

Signature & date
Signed and dated l.l. corner, red watercolour "JOHN RUSSELL. 1897".
Credit
Purchased 1974
Accession number
66.1974
Location
Not on display
Further information

John Russell was the only Australian artist to have been closely associated with some of the most original and influential artists of late nineteenth century France, including Auguste Rodin, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh and Henri Matisse. He lived from 1888-1908 on the French island Belle-Île-en-Mer, off the coast of Brittany, attracted, like Matisse and Monet, by the wild, rocky landscape and the unpredictable waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Russell painted a number of key subjects on the island, including the sea, cliffs, rocks and portraits of his family and the local fisherman, Père Polyte. This watercolour depicts the 'Port-Coton needles', a distinctively shaped outcrop of rocks that rises from the water near the shore, a short distance from Russell's house.

© Australian Art Department, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2004

Bibliography (7)

Ann Galbally, The art of John Peter Russell, Melbourne, 1977, 59 (illus.). cat.no. 30

Bruce James, Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook, 'Australian Collection: Works on Paper', pg. 182-197, Domain, 1999, 189 (colour illus.).

Hendrik Kolenberg, 19th century Australian watercolours, drawing and pastels from the Gallery's collection 2005, 'Introduction', pg. 6-16, Domain, 2005, 17 (colour illus., detail), 110, 111 (colour illus.).

Hendrik Kolenberg, Nineteenth century Australian watercolours from the collection 1991, Sydney, 1991. cat.no. 68

Ursula Prunster, Australian art: in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 'Home and abroad', pg. 73-74, Domain, 2000, 82 (colour illus.), 301.

Ursula Prunster (Curator), Belle-Île: Monet, Russell & Matisse in Brittany 2001, Domain, 2001, 104 (colour illus.). cat.no. 34

Donald Finley, John Peter Russell 1858-1931: Australian impressionist 1965, London, 1965. cat.no. 41

Exhibition history (4)

John Peter Russell 1858-1931: Australian Impressionist (1965), Wildenstein Gallery, London, Jul 1965–Aug 1965

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

Belle-Île: Monet, Russell & Matisse in Brittany:

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