Julian Ashton

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

Title

Evening, Merri Creek

Other titles:

Winter's Evening

Place of origin

Victoria → Australia

Year

1882

Media category

Painting

Materials used

oil on canvas

Dimensions

91.5 x 122.0cm

Signature & date

Signed and dated l.l., "J.R. ASHTON/ OCT 1882".

Credit

Gift of Howard Ashton 1942

Accession number

7211

Location

Not on display

Further information

Julian Ashton's 'Evening, Merri Creek' 1882, was claimed by the artist as the first true 'plein air' oil painting in Australia, and therefore a key example for his encouragement of young artists to work directly in the open.

When Ashton first exhibited his painting of the tranquil waterway near Melbourne, a reviewer commented:
"Mr Ashton has also on view a large landscape in oils, called 'Winter's Evening', a view on the Merri Creek. It is the time when the light is low, just before the sun sinks to its rest. The whole landscape is suffused with a glow from the setting luminary striking athwart the valley, lighting up the middle distance, which is very well rendered, and shimmering over the surface of the shallow water, above which some swallows are winging their arrowy flight. Gum trees line the sloping sides of the stream, the foreground being broken up with large boulders and reeds, the near foreground falling into shadow, which, like the crest of the ploughed field in the distance, is growing grey as sober evening with dewy fingers draws 'The gradual dusky veil'. The tone and colour of the landscape is very agreeable, the water admirable, and the whole work is in good keeping".
'The Australasian sketcher with pen and pencil', Melbourne, 11 November 1882

The Merri Creek runs for approximately 70 kms, beginning near Wallan, a town on Melbourne's northern outskirts, and joining the Yarra River at Dight's fall, Collingwood.

Bibliography (15)

John McDonald (Australia, b.1961) (Author), Art of Australia. Vol. 1: Exploration to Federation, Sydney, 2008, 360, 361 (colour illus.).

Ann Galbally (Australia) (Author), Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Barry Humphries (Australia, b.1934) (Author), Charles Conder 1868-1909, Domain, 2003, 15, 17.

Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Australian art: in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Domain, 2000, 42 (colour illus.), 43, 300.

Jane Clark (Australia) (Author), Bridget Whitelaw (Author), Golden summers: Heidelberg and beyond, Melbourne, 1985, 59 (colour illus.).

'Contrasting lights', pg.135-154., Images in opposition: Australian landscape painting 1801-1890 1985, 1985, 140, 141 (illus.), 178.

Dinah Dysart (Australia) (Author), Julian Ashton 1851-1942, Sydney, 1982, 3, 12. cat.no. 11; titled 'Evening - Merri Creek'

James Gleeson (Australia, b.1915, d.2008) (Author), John Henshaw (New Zealand; Australia, b.1929, d.2006) (Editor), Impressionist painters 1881-1930, St Kilda, 1971, 83.

Robert Hughes (Australia; United States of America, b.1938, d.2012) (Author), The art of Australia, Ringwood, 1970, 69.

Bernard Smith (Australia, b.1916, d.2011) (Author), Australian Painting 1788-1960, South Melbourne, 1962, 66.

Dr Ursula Hoff (England; Australia, b.1909, d.2005) (Author), Charles Conder - his Australian years, Melbourne, 1960, 26 (illus.). plate no. 1

Bernard Smith (Australia, b.1916, d.2011) (Author), A catalogue of Australian oil paintings in the National Art Gallery of New South Wales 1875-1952, Sydney, 1953, 18. cat.no. 17; titled 'Evening - Merri Creek'

Julian Ashton (England; Australia, b.1851, d.1942) (Author), Now came still evening on, Sydney, 1941, 28.

Blaxland Gallery (Australia, estab. 1929, closed 1957), Three generations of painters: Julian Ashton, Howard Ashton, Richard Ashton, Sydney, 1938. cat.no. 7; titled 'Evening on the Merri Creek, Melbourne'; price: 100 Gns.

Editor Unknown (Editor), The Julian Ashton book, Sydney, 1920, (colour illus.). plate no. XVII

The Australasian sketcher with pen and pencil 11 Nov 1882, 11 Nov 1882, 9. review of Julian Ashton's exhibition held at his studio at 95 Collins Street, Melbourne in November 1882; see WORKSHEET for transcript of article by Mary Eagle

Exhibition history (8)

(Julian Ashton), The Studio of Julian Rossi Ashton, Nov 1882 -.

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

Three generations of painters: Julian Ashton, Howard Ashton, Richard Ashton, Blaxland Gallery, 10 May 1938–20 May 1938.

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

Golden Summers - Heidelberg and beyond, National Gallery of Victoria [St Kilda Road], 30 Oct 1985–27 Jan 1986.

Golden Summers - Heidelberg and beyond, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 21 Feb 1986–20 Apr 1986.

Golden Summers - Heidelberg and beyond, Art Gallery of South Australia, 09 May 1986–29 Jun 1986.

Golden Summers - Heidelberg and beyond, Art Gallery of Western Australia, 30 Jul 1986–14 Sep 1986.

Collection

Julian Ashton