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Collection

• Reproduction requests

Charles Conder

(England, Australia 24 Oct 1868–09 Feb 1909)

Title

Departure of the Orient - Circular Quay

Other titles:

Departure of S.S. "Orient" from Circular Quay, Sydney
Departure of the 'Orient'
The Departure of Orient Steamer
Departure of S.S. Orient
Departure of SS. Orient
Departure of S.S. "Orient" from Circular Quay, Sydney
Departure of the S.S. Orient
Departure of the s.s. Orient - Circular Quay
Departure of the 'Orient' - Circular Quay

Place of origin

Sydney → New South Wales → Australia

Year

1888

Media category

Painting

Materials used

oil on canvas

Dimensions

45.1 x 50.1cm stretcher; 67.0 x 72.0 x 7.8cm frame

Signature & date

Signed and dated l.l. corner, incised "CHAS CONDER/ SYDNEY/ 1888". Signed and dated l.l. corner, red oil "CHAS CONDER/ SYDNEY/ 1888".

Credit

Purchased 1888

Accession number

829

Location

19th c Australian art

Further information

Arriving in Australia as an adolescent in 1884, Charles Conder became one of the key founders of the Heidelberg school of Australian impressionism. He returned to Europe six years later to become a legendary figure of the fin de siècle, mixing with leading artists and writers including Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Oscar Wilde.

Exhibited in Sydney in 1888, 'Departure of the Orient – Circular Quay' was Conder’s impressive artistic debut. With its silvery-grey tonality, contrasted with touches of brilliant colour, the work reflects the influence of Whistler and the principles of Aesthetic painting. Conder’s interest in Japanese art – or Whistler-inspired Japonisme – with its large, empty spaces, is also paramount.

Bibliography (76)

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Barbara Weinberg (United States of America) (Author), Lynne Seear (Australia) (Author), American Impressionism & Realism: A landmark exhibition from The Met, Sydney, 2009, 60 (colour illus.), 92 (colour illus., detail), 93, 96, 97 (colour illus.), 316, 330. cat.no. 2A; Exhibited in the 'Cities Australia' section

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Editor Unknown (Editor), Sotheby's Melbourne: Important Australian Art, 25 & 26 August 2008, Australia, 2008, 41. NOTE: Artwork reference in relation to painting "The Fatal Colours" which was for sale.

Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940) (Author), Art Gallery of New South Wales: highlights from the collection, Sydney, 2008, 58 (colour illus.), 59.

John McDonald (Australia, b.1961) (Author), Art of Australia. Vol. 1: Exploration to Federation, Sydney, 2008, 443, 444 (colour illus.), 576.

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Terence Lane (Editor), Australian Impressionism, Melbourne, 2007, 321, 104, 106-108, 79, 113 (colour illus.), 107 (colour illus. detail). cat.no. 6.3

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'Charles Conder 1868-1909 by Ann Galbally and Barry Pearce' by Martin Hopkinson, pg. 98-99., The British art journal [vol. V, no. 2] 2004, 2004, 98. NOTE: Book review.

'Moulin Rouge: Charles Conder at the Art Gallery of New South Wales' by Martin Terry, pg. 31-34., Art Monthly Australia Nov 2003, Nov 2003, 31-32.

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'Spirit of brilliance' by Sasha Grishin., The Canberra times 22 Jun 2003, 22 Jun 2003. Exhibition review.

'Exhibitions' by Victoria Hynes, pg. 27 (Metro Supplement)., The Sydney Morning Herald 13 Jun 2003, 13 Jun 2003, 27 (colour illus.). Exhibition review in Metro Supplement

'Forgotten impressionist' by Barry Pearce, pg. 16-17., The Weekend Australian 07 Jun 2003-08 Jun 2003, 07 Jun 2003-08 Jun 2003, 17 (colour illus.).

'Charles Conder: lost and found voice of the Heidelberg School' by Barry Pearce., Australian artist Jun 2003, Jun 2003, (colour illus.).

'The enigmatic Charles Conder: spotlight on a lesser known Heidelberg painter' by Barry Pearce, pg. 8-11., Look: 1953-2003 celebrating 50 years May 2003, May 2003, 10 (colour illus.). titled 'Departure of the Orient - Circular Quay'

'K' is for Conder: Charles Conder retrospective 2003, 2003, (illus.). not paginated

Ann Galbally (Australia) (Author), Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Barry Humphries (Australia, b.1934) (Author), Charles Conder 1868-1909, Domain, 2003, 21, 47, 62, 63 (colour illus., detail), 84, 85 (colour illus.), 181, 192, 198, 199. cat.no. 16; titled 'Departure of the Orient - Circular Quay'

'Charles Conder 1868-1909' by Ann Galbally, pg. 81-83., Craft arts international 2003, 2003, 83 (colour illus.).

'The painting of modern life'., Conder & friends 2003, 2003, (colour illus.), (colour illus., detail).

Ann Galbally (Australia) (Author), Charles Conder: the last bohemian, Melbourne, 2002, xi, 26-28, following 46 (colour illus.), 191. titled 'Departure of the Orient - Circular Quay'

Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Australian art: in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Domain, 2000, 12, 38, 53 (colour illus.), 300. titled 'Departure of the Orient - Circular Quay'

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Bruce James (Australia) (Author), Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940) (Director), Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook, Domain, 1999, 111 (colour illus.). titled 'Departure of the Orient, Circular Quay'

Okko Boer (Author), Masters of the Heidelberg School, Leichhardt, 1998, 48 (illus.), 49. plate no. 45; titled 'Departure of the S.S. Orient - Circular Quay'

Martin Terry (Australia) (Author), Maritime paintings of early Australia 1788-1900, Carlton South, 1998, 92 (colour illus., detail), 93 (colour illus.), 96. plate no. 58; titled 'Departure of the Orient - Circular Quay'

Patrick Jourdan (France) (Author), John-Peter Russell, un impressionniste australien : dans les collections françaises, autour du dépôt au Musée de Morlaix du legs Jouve, Musée du Louvre - fonds Orsay, Morlaix, 1997, 15.

Ewen McDonald (Australia) (Editor), The Art Gallery of New South Wales collections, Sydney, 1994, 14 (colour illus.). titled 'Departure of the Orient - Circular Quay'

Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Patricia McDonald (Editor), Haruo Arikawa (Japan) (Author), Chikashi Kitazaki (Japan) (Editor), Two hundred years of Australian painting: nature, people and art in the southern continent, Tokyo, 1992, 94 (colour illus.). cat.no. 49; titled 'Departure of the Orient - Circular Quay'; NOTE: See also unpublished translation of catalogue for entry.

Bohemians in the bush: the artists' camps of Mosman 1991, 1991, 45, 76. cat.no. 13; titled 'Departure of the S.S. Orient, Circular Quay'

Leigh Astbury (b.1950) (Author), Sunlight and shadow: Australian impressionist painters 1880-1900, Rushcutters Bay, 1989, 24 (colour illus., detail), 37 (colour illus.), 223. plate no. 22; titled 'Departure of the Orient - Circular Quay'

Annabel Davie (Editor), Art Gallery of New South Wales Handbook, Domain, 1988, 17 (illus.). titled 'Departure of the Orient - Circular Quay'

Peter Entwisle (Author), Michael Dunn (Australia, b.1942) (Author), Roger Collins (Author), Nerli - An exhibition of paintings & drawings, Dunedin, 1988, 21 (illus.), 28, 32, 34, 36.

'Poetic impulses in Australian landscape painting: the Heidelberg school reconsidered' by Leigh Astbury, pg. 123 - 141., Meridian Oct 1985, Oct 1985, 129.

Jane Clark (Australia) (Author), Bridget Whitelaw (Author), Golden summers: Heidelberg and beyond, Melbourne, 1985, 94 (colour illus.). titled 'Departure of the Orient - Circular Quay'

Brian Ladd (Australia) (Author), Alan Krell (Author), The Artist & the City, Domain, 1983, 4. titled 'Departure of S.S. Orient'

Bernard Smith (Australia, b.1916, d.2011) (Author), Place, taste and tradition: a study of Australian art since 1788, South Melbourne, 1979, 122 (illus.). plate no. 40; titled 'Departure of S.S. Orient'

Girolamo Pieri Nerli (1863-1926) 1976, 1976, 19, 24, 26, 27, 29, 33, (illus.).

William Splatt (Author), Barbara Burton (Author), 100 masterpieces of Australian painting, Adelaide, 1973, 46, 47 (colour illus.). plate no. 20; titled 'Departure of the 'Orient' - Circular Quay'

Editor Unknown (Editor), Art Gallery of New South Wales picturebook, Domain, 1972, 80 (colour illus.). titled 'Departure of the s.s. Orient - Circular Quay'

Dr Ursula Hoff (England; Australia, b.1909, d.2005) (Author), Charles Conder, Melbourne, 1972, 21-24, 100, plate no. 8 (colour illus.). plate no. 8; cat.no. C20; titled 'Departure of the S.S. Orient, Circular Quay'

Robert Hughes (Australia; United States of America, b.1938, d.2012) (Author), The art of Australia, Ringwood, 1970, 12, 70 (illus.), 72. plate no. 23; titled 'The Departure of S.S. Orient'

James Gleeson (Australia, b.1915, d.2008) (Author), John Henshaw (New Zealand; Australia, b.1929, d.2006) (Editor), Masterpieces of Australian painting, Melbourne, 1969, 66, 67 (colour illus.). plate no. 18

Dr Ursula Hoff (England; Australia, b.1909, d.2005) (Author), Charles Conder: 1868-1909, Sydney, 1966. cat.no. 8; titled 'Departure of the steamship Orient'; not paginated; NOTE: in the introduction title is refered to as 'Departure of the S.S. Orient'

Daniel Thomas (Author), Sydney Harbour, Sydney, 1963. cat.no. 21; titled 'Departure of the S.S. Orient, Circular Quay'; not paginated

Clive Turnbull (Author), Jean Campbell (Australia) (Author), Daniel Thomas (Author), Australian painting: colonial, impressionist, contemporary, Adelaide, 1962, 16, 39, 55 (colour illus.). cat.no. 33.

Author Unknown (Author), The Adelaide Festival of Arts 1962: Special exhibitions at the National Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, 1962, not paginated. cat.no. 38; titled 'Departure of s.s. "Orient"'

Brian Finemore (Australia, b.1925, d.1975) (Author), Painting, London, 1961, 4, 13 (illus.). This work is titled "Departure of the S.S. Orient".

Dr Ursula Hoff (England; Australia, b.1909, d.2005) (Author), Charles Conder - his Australian years, Melbourne, 1960, 7, 12-13, 17-18, 20, 25, 31 (colour illus.). plate no. 6; cat.no. 10; titled 'Departure of the Steamship Orient' on pg. 25; titled 'Departure of the S.S. Orient' on pg. 31.

'The Art Gallery of New South Wales' by Daniel Thomas, pg. 10-15., Art Gallery of New South Wales Quarterly Jan 1960, Jan 1960, 14.

Olympic Civic Committee of Melbourne City Council (Australia, active 1956), The arts festival of the Olympic Games, Melbourne: a guide to the exhibitions with introductory commentaries on the arts in Australia, Melbourne, 1956, 82. cat.no. 16; titled 'Departure of the S.S. "Orient"'

Herbert Badham (Australia, b.1899, d.1961) (Author), A gallery of Australian art, Sydney, 1954, xi, xv, (colour illus.). plate no. 14

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, 50. cat.no. 127; titled 'Departure of the S.S. Orient'

Hal Missingham (Australia, b.1906, d.1994) (Author), A retrospective exhibition of Australian painting, Domain, 1953, not paginated. cat.no. 43; titled 'Departure of the S.S. Orient'

Laurie Thomas (Australia, b.1915, d.1974) (Editor), Jubilee exhibition of Australian art, Sydney, 1951, 35. cat.no. 73

Herbert Badham (Australia, b.1899, d.1961) (Author), A study of Australian art, Sydney, 1949, 2 (colour illus.), 53.

Bernard Smith (Australia, b.1916, d.2011) (Author), Trustees of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia), 100 years of Australian painting, Sydney, 1948, 5. cat.no. 6; titled 'The Departure of S.S. Orient'

Sydney Ure Smith (Australia, b.1887, d.1949) (Editor), Art of Australia 1788-1941, New York, 1941, 35. cat.no. 46; titled 'Departure of S.S. Orient'.

Lionel Lindsay (Australia, b.1874, d.1961) (Author), 150 years of Australian art, Sydney, 1938, (illus.). cat.no. 156; not paginated

Sir John Rothenstein (England, b.1901, d.1992) (Author), The life and death of Conder, London, 1938, 9, 30, 37, 285. titled 'Departure of S.S. "Orient" from Circular Quay, Sydney'

'Eaglemont in the 'Eighties: beginnings of art in Australia' by Arthur Streeton, pg. 49., Argus 16 Oct 1934, 16 Oct 1934, 49.

William Moore (Australia, b.1868, d.1937) (Author), The story of Australian art from the earliest known art of the continent to the art of today (Vol. 1), Sydney, 1934, opposite 91 (illus.).

George Galway (Australia) (Author), Fifty years of Australian art 1879-1929, New South Wales, 1929, 59 (illus.). titled 'The Departure of Orient Steamer'

Frank Gibson (Author), Campbell Dodgson (England, b.1867, d.1948) (Author), Charles Conder: his life and work, London, 1914, 29, 108. titled 'Departure of SS. "Orient"'

The Tatler: art, literature, music and the drama illustrated 05 Jun 1898, 05 Jun 1898, 24.

Grafton Galleries (England) (Author), Exhibition of Australian art in London, London, 1898, 49. cat.no. 311; titled 'Departure of the "Orient"'; lent by the Trustees of Sydney Gallery; NOTE: Artist is 'Chas. Conder'.

National Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874) (Author), Catalogue of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales 1893, Sydney, 1893, 107. cat.no. 370; titled 'Departure of the 'Orient''

World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893: Catalogue of the exhibits in the New South Wales Courts, Sydney, 1893, 435. cat.no. 8; titled 'Departure of the Orient'

Table talk 05 Oct 1888, 05 Oct 1888, 4.

'The pictures', pg. 5., The Sydney Morning Herald 18 Sep 1888, 18 Sep 1888, 5. NOTE: Review of Art Society of New South Wales Ninth Annual Exhibition.

'Leading pictures at the Art Society's exhibition', pg. 7., Illustrated Sydney news 17 Sep 1888, 17 Sep 1888, 7 (illus.). Hand-drawn illustration of 'Departure of the Orient - Circular Quay'.

Author Unknown (Author), Art Society of New South Wales Ninth Annual Exhibition Catalogue, Sydney, Sep 1888, 34. cat.no. 140; titled 'Departure of the Orient - Circular Quay'; priced £21; NOTE: Artist is 'Chas. Conder'.

Exhibition history (60)

Ninth Annual Exhibition of the Art Society of New South Wales (1888), Society Rooms, Union Chambers, 1888 -.

World's Columbian Exposition, 1893, Jackson Park, Chicago, 01 May 1893–30 Oct 1893.

Exhibition of Australian art in London (1898), Grafton Galleries, 02 Apr 1898–31 Jul 1898.

Fifty years of Australian art, 1879-1929 by members of Royal Art Society, with a commentary by George Galway, Blaxland Gallery, 25 Nov 1929–07 Dec 1929.

150 years of Australian art (1938), National Art Gallery of New South Wales, 27 Jan 1938–25 Apr 1938.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 01 Oct 1941–26 Oct 1941.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 17 Nov 1941–31 Dec 1941.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Yale University Art Gallery, 02 Mar 1942–23 Mar 1942.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Carnegie Institute, 03 Apr 1942–15 May 1942.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Wilmington Society of Fine Arts, 01 Jun 1942–27 Jun 1942.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 10 Jul 1942–27 Aug 1942.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Toledo Museum of Art, 06 Sep 1942–27 Sep 1942.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Rochester Memorial Art Gallery, 05 Oct 1942–02 Nov 1942.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Cleveland Museum of Art, 09 Nov 1942–07 Dec 1942.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Detroit Institiute of Arts, 01 Jan 1943–29 Jan 1943.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Herron Museum of Art, Indianapolis, 08 Apr 1943–05 May 1943.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Fort Wayne Art School and Museum, 12 May 1943–31 May 1943.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Rockhill Nelson Gallery, 07 Sep 1943–08 Oct 1943.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Philbrook Art Museum, 20 Oct 1943–17 Nov 1943.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Museum of Fine Arts, Dallas, 28 Nov 1943–26 Dec 1943.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Abilene Museum of Fine Arts, 10 Jan 1944–07 Feb 1944.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Heard Museum, Phoenix Fine Arts Association, 21 Feb 1944–20 Mar 1944.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, San Francisco Museum of Art, 04 Apr 1944–07 May 1944.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Rosicrucian Egyptian Oriental Museum, 19 May 1944–16 Jun 1944.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Hamline University, 01 Dec 1944–17 Dec 1944.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Society Liberal Arts, Joslyn Memorial, 06 Jan 1945–27 Jan 1945.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, 06 Feb 1945–27 Feb 1945.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Quincy Art Club, 09 Mar 1945–30 Mar 1945.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, Oklahoma Art Center, 13 Apr 1945–04 May 1945.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, University of Oklahoma, 14 May 1945–04 Jun 1945.

Art of Australia 1788-1941, North Texas State Teachers' College, 14 Jun 1945–05 Jul 1945.

100 years of Australian painting (1948), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 19 Apr 1948–17 May 1948.

Jubilee exhibition of Australian art, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, 12 Mar 1951–31 Mar 1951.

Jubilee exhibition of Australian art, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston, 09 Apr 1951–28 Apr 1951.

Jubilee exhibition of Australian art, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 25 Jun 1951–21 Jul 1951.

Jubilee exhibition of Australian art, Queensland Art Gallery, 06 Aug 1951–01 Sep 1951.

Jubilee exhibition of Australian art, Art Gallery of South Australia, 24 Sep 1951–20 Oct 1951.

Jubilee exhibition of Australian art, Art Gallery of Western Australia, 12 Nov 1951–10 Dec 1951.

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

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

Australian Painting: Colonial, Impressionist, Contemporary (1962-63), National Gallery of South Australia, 17 Mar 1962–31 Mar 1962.

Australian Painting: Colonial, Impressionist, Contemporary (1962-63), Art Gallery of Western Australia, 23 Sep 1962–24 Oct 1962.

Australian Painting: Colonial, Impressionist, Contemporary (1962-63), Tate Britain, 24 Jan 1963–03 Mar 1963.

Sydney Harbour: an exhibition to mark the 175th anniversary of the founding of Australia (1963), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 30 Oct 1963–19 Nov 1963.

Charles Conder: 1868-1909 (1966), National Gallery of Victoria [Swanston Street], 09 Aug 1966–04 Sep 1966.

Charles Conder: 1868-1909 (1966), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 09 Nov 1966–04 Dec 1966.

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.

Bohemians in the bush: the artists' camps of Mosman, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 06 Jun 1991–25 Aug 1991.

Two hundred years of Australian painting : Nature, people and art in the southern continent, National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo, 28 Apr 1992–28 Jun 1992.

Two hundred years of Australian painting : Nature, people and art in the southern continent, The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, 14 Jul 1992–06 Sep 1992.

Charles Conder retrospective (2003-2004), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 14 Jun 2003–17 Aug 2003.

Charles Conder retrospective (2003-2004), Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, 05 Sep 2003–09 Nov 2003.

Charles Conder retrospective (2003-2004), Art Gallery of South Australia, 21 Nov 2003–26 Jan 2004.

Exiles and emigrants: Epic journeys to Australia in the Victorian era, Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, 09 Dec 2005–26 Mar 2006.

Exiles and emigrants: Epic journeys to Australia in the Victorian era, National Museum of Australia, Canberra, 21 Apr 2006–04 Jun 2006.

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

American Impressionism and Realism: a landmark exhibition from the Met, Queensland Art Gallery, 30 May 2009–20 Sep 2009.