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Collection

An image of The railway station, Redfern by Arthur Streeton

Arthur Streeton

(Australia, England, Australia 08 Apr 1867–01 Sep 1943)

Title
The railway station, Redfern
Other titles:
The railway station
Old Redfern Station
Redfern Station
Place of origin
Redfern → Sydney → New South Wales → Australia
Year
1893
Media category
Painting
Materials used
oil on canvas
Dimensions

40.8 x 61.0cm stretcher

Signature & date
Signed and dated l.r. corner, brown oil "Arthur Streeton/ 1893.".
Credit
Gift of Lady Denison 1942
Accession number
7209
Location
19th c Australian art
Further information

The subject of this work is the old Redfern Station, situated on Devonshire Street, just south of where Sydney’s Central Station is now located. Painted three years after Arthur Streeton first visited Sydney, 'The railway station, Redfern' is an atmospheric study of rain and light. It falls within the tradition of tonal paintings of wet urban scenes which existed alongside the nationalistic evocations of sunlight and heat in Australian painting of this period.

Streeton’s choice of modern railway subject matter and his evocative approach were influenced by French and British impressionism as well as the decorative, asymmetrical design and flattened picture plane of Japanese woodcuts.

Bibliography (67)

Leigh Astbury, Sunlight and shadow: Australian impressionist painters 1880-1900, 'Sun-girdled Queen: Sydney in the 1890s', pg. 107-132, Rushcutters Bay, 1989, 124 (colour illus.). plate no. 9

Australian Gallery Directors Council, Old master paintings from the USSR: A survey of four centuries of European art. Report 1979, Sydney, 1979, (illus.). cat.no. 58

Herbert Badham, A gallery of Australian art, Sydney, 1954, (colour illus.). plate no. 13

David Burke, Juggernaut! A story of Sydney in the wild days of the steam trams., '1889: up for sale', pg. 88-92, East Roseville, 1997, 93 (colour illus.).

Edmund Capon and Jan Meek (Editors), Portrait of a Gallery, 'Australian art in the old courts', pg. 24-41, Sydney, 1984, 35 (colour illus.).

Jane Clark, Golden summers: Heidelberg and beyond 1985, 'Sydney Harbour', pg. 150-152, Melbourne, 1985, 159 (colour illus.), 160.

St. Stanislaus College, Western Advocate 04 Dec 1996, 'An insight into Streeton art era', pg. 8, Bathurst, 04 Dec 1996, 8.

Jonathan Cooper (Editor), The Art Gallery of New South Wales Bulletin Aug 1996-Oct 1996, 'The art of Arthur Streeton', pg. 20-23, Domain, Aug 1996-Oct 1996, 21 (colour illus.), back cover (colour illus.). The image appearing on the back cover is in detail.

Robert Croll and Lionel Lindsay, Arthur Streeton memorial exhibition 1944, Adelaide, 1944. cat.no. 100; titled 'Old Redfern station'.

Geoffrey Dutton, Arthur Streeton 1867-1943 a biographical sketch, Brisbane, 1987, 33 (colour illus.).

Mary Eagle, Australian Impressionism 2007, 'Friendly rivalry: paintings of waterside Sydney, 1888 and 1890', pg. 103-108, Melbourne, 2007, 108, 206, 338, 213 (colour illus.). cat.no. 11.7

Farmer & Co Limited (Compilator), Catalogue exhibition and sale of paintings by Arthur Streeton Nov 1923, Sydney, Nov 1923, 8.

Brian Finemore., The arts in Australia: Australian Impressionism, 'Freedom from prejudice: an introduction to the Australian collection in the national Gallery of Victoria', Melbourne, 1977, 26 (illus.).

Gavin Fry, Paint on the tracks: Australian artists and the railway 1994, 'Introduction', pg. 7-10, Sydney, 1994, cover (colour illus., detail), 24, 25 (colour illus.). cat.no. 6

Ann Galbally, Hemisphere Mar 1971, 'Arthur Streeton', pg. 18-24, North Sydney, Mar 1971, 23 (colour illus.).

Anne Galbally, Arthur Streeton, 'Chelsea, 1898-1908', pg. 34-55, Melbourne, 1969, 18, 43 (colour illus.). plate no. 18

James Gleeson, Impressionist painters 1881-1930, 'Arthur Streeton (1867-1943)', pg. 103-104, St Kilda, 1971, 49 (colour illus), 103, 104. plate no. 63

James Gleeson, Masterpieces of Australian painting, 'Arthur Streeton', pg. 74-77, Melbourne, 1969, 76, 77 (colour illus.). plate no. 23

Ursula Hoff, Art and Australia Jun 1967, 'Arthur Streeton at Coogee', pg. 386-389, Sydney, Jun 1967, 389.

Robert Hughes, The art of Australia, 'The Heidelberg school 1885-96', pg. 53-73, Ringwood, 1970, 12, 63 (illus.). plate no. 20

Bruce James, Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook, 'Australian collection: painting and sculpture', pg. 102-181, Domain, 1999, 116 (colour illus.).

Sandra Jane, Art is ... making, creating and appreciating 2 1999, Milton, 1999, 221 (colour illus.).

Elizabeth Johns, Andrew Sayers, Elizabeth Kornhauser, Amy Ellis, Patrick McCaughey, Peter Sutton and Brian Kennedy, New Worlds From Old 1997, 'The figure defines the landscape', pg. 201-224, Parkes, 1997, 212 (colour illus.). cat.no. 113

Heather Johnson, Australian art collector Apr 1998-Jun 1998, 'Private pleasure, public gain: the influence of private collections', pg. 58-61, Ultimo, Apr 1998-Jun 1998, 60.

Anne Kern, Arthur Streeton the man and his art 1981, 'Sydney early 1890s', pg. 21-24, Leichhardt, 1981, 21, 22 (colour illus.). plate no. 5A

Pat Kreuiter, Look Oct 2008, 'Learning to look at art: introducing and inspiring art lovers of the future', pg. 12-13, Newtown, Oct 2008, 12 (colour illus.). NOTE: Group of school children in front of painting.

Brian Ladd, The Artist & the City 1983, 'Introduction', pg. 4-5, Domain, 1983, 4.

Lionel Lindsay and Robert Campbell, Australia paintings by Arthur Streeton and Arthur Boyd: the XXIX Biennale Venice 1958 1958, Australia, 1958. cat.no. 4

Lionel Lindsay, Streeton memorial exhibition souvenir catalogue 1945, Sydney, 1945. cat.no. 22

Patrick McCaughey and Jack Manton, Australian painters of the heidelberg school, Melbourne, 1979, 30, 62.

Alan McCulloch, The golden age of Australian painting - Impressionism and the Heidelberg school, 'Streton, Arthur Ernest (1867-1943)', pg. 174-187, Melbourne, 1969, 71 (colour illus.), 176. plate no. 35

Ewen McDonald (Editor), The Art Gallery of New South Wales collections, 'From Colonialism to late Modernism', pg. 7-106, Sydney, 1994, 15 (colour illus.).

John McDonald, Art of Australia. Vol. 1: Exploration to Federation, ‘Individual and national feeling’, pg. 545-610, Sydney, 2008, 576, 577, 579 (colour illus.).

Paul McGillick., The Australian financial review 08 Nov 1996, 'The best of Streeton', Sydney, 08 Nov 1996, 21 (illus.), 32.

William Moore, The Courier Mail 09 Jun 1928, 'Art and artists', pg. 24, Brisbane, 09 Jun 1928.

William Moore, The story of Australian art from the earliest known art of the continent to the art of today (Vol. 1), 'Australian school of landscape painters', pg. 84-121, Sydney, 1934, 96.

Margaret Olley and Jeffrey Smart, Favourites: Margaret Olley and Jeffrey Smart selections 2002, Sydney, 2002. NOTE: no catalogue numbers; Jeffrey Smart selection.

John Olsen, Art and Australia [series 3, vol. 1, no. 3] Nov 1963, 'Sir Arthur Streeton', pg. 161-165, Sydney, Nov 1963, 161, 163 (illus.).

Barry Pearce, A century of Australian landscape: mood and moment, Sydney, 1983, 14, 39 (colour illus.). cat.no. 21

Barry Pearce and Haruo Arikawa, Two hundred years of Australian painting: nature, people and art in the southern continent 1992, 'Section 2: Australian Impressionism', pg. 69-132, Tokyo, 1992, 99 (colour illus.). cat.no. 54

Bary Pearce, Art and Australia (Vol. 23, No. 4) Winter 1986, 'Fire's on: some thoughts on a national icon', pg. 527-530, Sydney, Winter 1986, 528.

Henry Richardson, The Fortunes of Richard Mahony, Ringwood, 1998, cover (colour illus.).

Michael Rosenthal, Art Monthly Australia (no.200) Jun 2007, 'Impressions of Australia', pg. 21-27, Acton, Jun 2007, 24. Review of 'Australian Impressionism' exhibition held at the National Gallery of Victoria [Ian Potter Centre]

Malcolm Schmidtke (Editor), The Australian 09 Oct 1996, 'You haven't seen Australia until you've seen Arthur Streeton', Surry Hills, 09 Oct 1996, (cover illus.).

G.F.H. Schuler (Editor), Age 01 Feb 1922, Melbourne, 01 Feb 1922, 10.

Wendy Sheather, Sunday telegraph 13 Oct 1996, 'Enjoy a brush with Streeton', pg. 138, Surry Hills, 13 Oct 1996, 138 (illus.).

Bernard Smith, Australian painting 1788-1990, 'Genesis 1885-1914', pg. 71-124, South Melbourne, 1991, 83, 84 (illus.). plate no. 56

Bernard William Smith, Australian painting 1788-1970, South Melbourne, 1971, 83 (illus.). plate no. 56

Geoffrey Smith, Arthur Streeton, 1867-1943 1995, ''The centre of the Empire' Overseas 1897-1920', pg. 131-160, South Yarra, 1995, 96, 97 (colour illus.). cat.no. 39

Terry Smith, Transformations in Australian art: The nineteenth century - landscape, colony and nation [Volume One], 'Landscape with feeling: Golden summers and modern life', pg. 107-123, St Leonards, 2002, 117.

William Splatt and Susan Bruce, Australian impressionist painters: a pictorial history of the Heidelberg school, Windsor, 1981, 74 (illus.). cat.no. 40

William Splatt and Barbara Burton, 100 masterpieces of Australian painting, Adelaide, 1973, 72, 73 (colour illus.). plate no. 33

Arthur Streeton, The Arthur Streeton catalogue 1935, Melbourne, 1935, 116. cat.no. 110

Martin Terry, Art and Australia (Vol. 21, No. 4) Winter 1984, 'Conrad Martens and the zig zag', pg. 503, Sydney, Winter 1984, 503.

Laurie Thomas (Editor), Jubilee exhibition of Australian art 1951, Sydney, 1951, 41. cat.no. 117; titled 'Old Redfern Station'

Clive Turnbull, Jean Campbell and Daniel Thomas, Australian painting: colonial, impressionist, contemporary 1962, Adelaide, 1962, 40. cat.no. 55; titled 'Redfern railway station'

Sydney Ure Smith, Sir Bertram Stevens and Charles Lloyd Jones (Editors), The art of Arthur Streeton, Sydney, 1919, (colour illus.). plate no. V; titled 'Redfern railway Station'.

Susan Venn, Roy and Matilda - The Golden Locket, Canterbury, 1994, colour illus..

Russel Ward and Graeme Inson, The glorious years of Australia fair from the birth of the Bulletin to Versailles, Milton, 1971, 13 (illus.).

Christopher Wray, Arthur Streeton: painter of light, 'City of laughing loveliness', pg. 72-84, Milton, 1993, 73.

Editor Unknown (Editor), The Sydney Morning Herald 01 Sep 1893, Sydney, 01 Sep 1893, 6.

Editor Unknown (Editor), Art Gallery of New South Wales picturebook, Domain, 1972, 81 (colour illus.).

Editor Unknown (Editor), The Home : an Australian quarterly Dec 1932, Sydney, Dec 1932, 28.

Editor Unknown (Editor), The Sydney Morning Herald 01 Feb 1922, Sydney, 01 Feb 1922, 10.

Editor Unknown (Editor), Sun (Melbourne) 11 Dec 1896, Melbourne, 11 Dec 1896, 14.

Editor Unknown (Editor), Sydney mail and New South Wales advertiser 09 Sep 1893, Sydney, 09 Sep 1893, 544.

Author Unknown, The Adelaide Festival of Arts 1962: Special exhibitions at the National Gallery of South Australia 1962, 'Australian painting: colonial, impressionist, contemporary', Adelaide, 1962. not paginated; cat.no. 62; titled 'Redfern railway station'

Exhibition history (20)

Fourteenth Annual Exhibition of the Art Society of New South Wales (1893), Society Rooms, Union Chambers, Sydney, 1893 -

Streeton's Sydney sunshine exhibition (1896), Exhibition Venue Unknown, 30 Nov 1896 -

Loan exhibition of Australian Art (1918), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 04 Apr 1918–1918

Arthur Streeton memorial exhibition:

Jubilee exhibition of Australian art:

A retrospective exhibition of Australian painting, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 25 Sep 1953–25 Oct 1953

The Arts Festival of the Olympic Games (1956), National Gallery of Victoria [Swanston Street], Melbourne, 18 Nov 1956–15 Dec 1956

Australian paintings by Arthur Streeton and Arthur Boyd: The XXIX Venice Biennale (1958), Exhibition Venue Unknown, 1958–1958

Australian Painting: Colonial, Impressionist, Contemporary (1962-63):

European masters and Australian painting from Australian collections:

A century of Australian landscape painting: mood and moment:

Golden Summers - Heidelberg and beyond:

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

Paint on the tracks: Australian artists and the railway, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 22 Apr 1994–29 May 1994

Arthur Streeton:

New Worlds From Old: Australian and American Landscape Painting in the Nineteenth Century:

Australian icons: twenty artists from the collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 04 Aug 2000–03 Dec 2000

Favourites: Margaret Olley and Jeffrey Smart (2002), S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 12 Jan 2002–24 Feb 2002

Sydney studios, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 14 Aug 2004–26 Sep 2004

Australian Impressionism, Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Melbourne, 31 Mar 2007–08 Jul 2007