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Arthur Streeton
(Australia, England, Australia 08 Apr 1867–01 Sep 1943)
- Title
- Fire's on
- Other titles:
- "Fire's on" Lapstone tunnel
- Place of origin
-
Lapstone →
New South Wales →
Australia
- Year
- 1891
- Media category
- Painting
- Materials used
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
-
183.8 x 122.5cm; 204.7 x 142.7 x 6cm frame
- Signature & date
- Signed and dated l.l., brown oil "Arthur StrEEton. 1891".
- Credit
- Purchased 1893
- Accession number
- 832
- Location
- 19th c Australian art
- Further information
Arthur Streeton's visions of the landscape have defined an image of Australia. 'Fire’s on' in particular is considered his greatest evocation of the country's heat and sunlight. Painted a year after the artist left Melbourne for Sydney, it constitutes a radical new type of landscape in his oeuvre. Its vertical composition and the high horizon line bring focus to the steep terrain with precarious rocks and dead tree-trunks.
The painting captures a critical moment during the construction of a railway line across the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney: the death of a railway worker in an explosion. 'Fire's on' was the warning call before the blast, as the gang dynamited the Lapstone Tunnel through the hillside. The human drama of the painting, however, is overshadowed by the heroism of the landscape itself.
- Bibliography (125)
-
‘Google art project’ by Michael Tasker, pg. 12, Look May 2012, May 2012, 12 (colour illus.). one of two reproductions is a detail
Deborah Hart (South Africa; United Kingdom; Australia, b.1959) (Author), Fred Williams: infinite horizons, Canberra, 2011, 210 (colour illus.).
Jaynie Anderson (Editor), The Cambridge companion to Australian Art, Port Melbourne, 2011, 74, 80, 351. fig.no. 6.9 (colour illus.), between pg. 92 and 93.
Elizabeth Cross (Australia, b.1943) (Author), Patrick McCaughey (Northern Ireland; Australia, b.1943) (Author), Michael Shannon: Australian romantic realist, Ballarat, 2011, 54.
'Vision of Australia' by John MacDonald, pg. 36-40., Good Weekend 19 Nov 2008, 19 Nov 2008, 40 (colour illus.).
Fire and ice 2008, 2008, (colour illus., detail), (colour illus.). not paginated;
Christine Dixon (Author), Turner to Monet: the triumph of landscape painting, Canberra, 2008, 174, 175 (colour illus.). cat.no. 63.
Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940) (Author), Art Gallery of New South Wales: highlights from the collection, Sydney, 2008, 60 (colour illus.), 61 (colour illus., detail).
John McDonald (Australia, b.1961) (Author), Art of Australia. Vol. 1: Exploration to Federation, Sydney, 2008, 570, 571 (colour illus.), 579.
'Impressions of Australia' by Michael Rosenthal, pg. 21-27., Art Monthly Australia (no.200) Jun 2007, Jun 2007, 25, 26 (colour illus.). Review of 'Australian Impressionism' exhibition held at the National Gallery of Victoria [Ian Potter Centre]
'Impressions from the edge' by John McDonald, pg. 16., The Sydney Morning Herald 19 May 2007, 19 May 2007, 16.
Terence Lane (Editor), Australian Impressionism, Melbourne, 2007, 261, 283, 284, 286, 287, 291 (colour illus.). cat.no. 15.5
'Australian images from the past: whether rarely seen or familiar, these works move and delight us' by Hendrik Kolenberg, pg. 24-27., Look Apr 2005, Apr 2005, 26.
Robert Rosenblum (Author), H.W. Janson (United States of America) (Author), 19th-century art, New Jersey, 2005, 396 (colour illus.).
Rex Butler (Editor), Radical revisionism: an anthology of writings on Australian art, Brisbane, 2005, 175.
Artwise: visual arts 7-10 2004, 2004, 136, 137 (colour illus.).
Art of the land 2002, 2002, 16 (colour illus.), 17. Children's activities book
'Forthcoming Australian features' by Barry Pearce and Deborah Edwards, pg. 24., Look Apr 2001, Apr 2001, 24 (colour illus.).
Andrew Sayers (Australia, b.1957) (Author), Australian art, Oxford, 2001, 86 (colour illus.). plate no. 47
Stuart Hill (Australia, b.1943) (Author), Martin Mulligan (Australia) (Author), Ecological pioneers: a social history of Australian ecological thought and action, Cambridge, 2001, 50-51, 52 (illus.), 53.
'Keeping a lost art alive', pg. 4-5., Australian artist Oct 2000, Oct 2000, 5 (colour illus.). Article about frame conservation for 'Australian Icons' exhibition.
'Positions vacant' by Humphrey McQueen, pg. 21-23., Art Monthly Australia Sep 2000, Sep 2000, 21. review of 'Australian icons' exhibition
'Australian Icons: Fire's on' by Elvira Adelstein, pg. 26., Look Aug 2000, Aug 2000, 26 (colour illus.).
'Australian Icons at the Art Gallery of New South Wales', pg, 4-5., Australian artist Aug 2000, Aug 2000, 4 (colour illus.).
'Icons on show' by Rob Ditessa', pg. 54-59., Artist's palette 2000, 2000, 57 (colour illus.).
Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Australian art: in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Domain, 2000, 13, 37, 47 (colour illus., detail), 48, 49 (colour illus.).
Aspects of Australian art 2000, 2000, (illus.). card no. 2: Tom Roberts 'The Golden Fleece' 1894
Bruce James (Australia) (Author), Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940) (Director), Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook, Domain, 1999, 114 (colour illus.).
Art is ... making, creating and appreciating 2 1999, 1999, 221 (colour illus.).
Louise Sweetland (Australia) (Editor), Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940) (Author), Elizabeth Cross (Australia, b.1943) (Author), Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Southern Reflections: 10 contemporary Australian artists, Domain, 1998, 36 (colour illus.). fig.no. 4
'Painting rocks and cliffs' pg. 102-103., Art is ... making, creating and appreciating 1998, 1998, 103 (colour illus.).
Art Wise - Visual Arts years 7-10 1997, 1997.
Elizabeth Johns (Author), Andrew Sayers (Australia, b.1957) (Author), Elizabeth Kornhauser (Author), Amy Ellis (Author), Patrick McCaughey (Northern Ireland; Australia, b.1943) (Author), Peter Sutton (Author), Brian Kennedy (Author), New Worlds From Old, Parkes, 1997, 66 (illus.). fig.no. 38
Wynne centenary 1897-1997: a selection of past winners from the Gallery's collection 1997, 1997.
'An insight into Streeton art era' by St Stanislaus College, pg. 8., Western Advocate 04 Dec 1996, 04 Dec 1996, 8.
'In a new light' by John McDonald, pg. 13., The Sydney Morning Herald 19 Oct 1996, 19 Oct 1996, 13.
'Enjoy a brush with Streeton' by Wendy Sheather, pg. 138., Sunday telegraph 13 Oct 1996, 13 Oct 1996, (illus.), 138. Full page illustration and review/promotion of the retrospective exhibition, "Arthur Streeton" at the AGNSW, 11 October-24 November 1996.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales Bulletin Aug 1996-Oct 1996, Aug 1996-Oct 1996, 23 (colour illus.).
'Green before his time: artist-as-conservationist; the work of Arthur Streeton, lyrical poet with a brush, fittingly opens the new wing of the Art Gallery of South Australia', by Collin Simpson, pg. 76-77., The Bulletin with Newsweek 26 Mar 1996, 26 Mar 1996, 77.
'Growing old gracelessly ?' by Tim Bonyhadt, pg. 10A., The Sydney Morning Herald 25 Nov 1995, 25 Nov 1995, 10A.
Geoffrey Smith (Author), Arthur Streeton, 1867-1943, South Yarra, 1995, 9, 67, 84, 85 (colour illus.). cat.no. 33
Hendrik Kolenberg (Netherlands; Australia) (Author), Australian watercolours 1880s to 1990s, Sydney, 1995, 10.
Arthur Streeton 1867-1943: Education guide 1995, 1995, (colour illus.).
'Streeton under the microscope' by Jane Clark, The Sydney Morning Herald 11 Jun 1994, 11 Jun 1994. This reference is a review for Mary Eagle "The oil paintings of Arthur Streeton in The National Gallery of Australia'.
Gavin Fry (Author), David Burke (Australia) (Author), Paint on the tracks: Australian artists and the railway, Sydney, 1994.
Ewen McDonald (Australia) (Editor), The Art Gallery of New South Wales collections, Sydney, 1994, 12, 13 (colour illus.).
The oil paintings of Arthur Streeton in the National Gallery of Australia 1994, 1994, 72.
Christopher Wray (Author), Arthur Streeton: painter of light, Milton, 1993, 68, 76.
Bernard Smith (Australia, b.1916, d.2011) (Author), Terry Smith (Author), Australian painting 1788-1990, South Melbourne, 1991, 91, 92, 93 (illus.), 355. plate no. 62
Leigh Astbury (b.1950) (Author), Sunlight and shadow: Australian impressionist painters 1880-1900, Rushcutters Bay, 1989, 201 (colour illus.), 202. plate no. 150
Daniel Thomas (Editor), Ron Radford (Australia, b.1949) (Assistant Co-ordinator), Creating Australia: 200 years of art 1788-1988, Melbourne, 1988, 8, 106, 107 (colour illus.), 234, 247.
Annabel Davie (Editor), Art Gallery of New South Wales Handbook, Domain, 1988, 17, 18, 19 (colour illus.).
Geoffrey Dutton (Australia, b.1922, d.1998) (Author), Arthur Streeton 1867-1943 a biographical sketch, Brisbane, 1987, 29 (colour illus.).
'Fire's On: some thoughts on a national icon' by Barry Pearce, pg. 527-530., Art and Australia (Vol. 23, No. 4) Winter 1986, Winter 1986, 528, 529.
'Strong masculine labour' by Leigh Astbury, pg. 100-129., City bushmen: the Heidelberg school and the rural mythology 1985, 1985, 121.
Jane Clark (Australia) (Author), Bridget Whitelaw (Author), Golden summers: Heidelberg and beyond, Melbourne, 1985, 138, 139 (colour illus.), 140.
'Contrasting lights', pg. 135-154., Images in opposition: Australian landscape painting 1801-1890 1985, 1985, 142, opposite 146 (colour illus.), 150-151, 174. plate no. 26
'Conrad Martens and the zig zag' by Martin Terry, pg. 503., Art and Australia (Vol. 21, No. 4) Winter 1984, Winter 1984, 503.
Art and Australia (Vol. 22, No. 1) Spring 1984, Spring 1984.
Martin Terry (Australia) (Author), Masterpieces of Australian Painting, Sydney, 1984, 74, 75 (colour illus.).
Editor Unknown (Editor), Australian art masterpieces, South Yarra, 1984, (illus.). plate no. 52
Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940) (Editor), Jan Meek (Australia) (Editor), Portrait of a Gallery, Sydney, 1984, 34, 35 (colour illus.).
'Frederick McCubbin: the spirit of the pioneers' by Leigh Astbury, pg. 26-58., Australia 1888: a journal for the study of Australian history centred on the year 1888 1982, 1982, 35.
William Splatt (Author), Susan Bruce (Author), Australian impressionist painters: a pictorial history of the Heidelberg school, Windsor, 1981, 74, 75 (illus.). plate no. 41
Hugh Speirs (Author), Manning Clark (Author), John Olsen (Australia; England; Spain; Portugal, b.1928) (Author), Landscape art and the Blue Mountains, Australia, 1981, 60, 61 (illus.). plate no. 34
Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Fifteen decades of Australian paintings, Sydney, 1981, (colour illus.). cat.no. 7
Art and Artists of Australia 1981, 1981, (colour illus.).
Terry Smith (Editor), Anthony Bradley (b.1936) (Editor), Australian art and architecture: essays presented to Bernard Smith, Melbourne, 1980, 89, 91, 94, 103.
Clem Lloyd (Author), Peter Sekuless (Author), Australia's national collections, North Ryde, 1980, 249, 258 (colour illus.).
Patrick McCaughey (Northern Ireland; Australia, b.1943) (Author), Jack Manton (b.1907, d.1992) (Author), Australian painters of the heidelberg school, Melbourne, 1979, 7, 9.
Elwyn Lynn (Australia, b.1917, d.1997) (Author), The Australian landscape and its artists, Rushcutters Bay, 1977, 71 (colour illus.).
William Splatt (Author), Barbara Burton (Author), A treasury of Australian painting, Australia, 1976, 33 (colour illus.). plate no. 23
William Splatt (Author), Barbara Burton (Author), 100 masterpieces of Australian painting, Adelaide, 1973, 70, 71 (colour illus.). plate no. 32
Editor Unknown (Editor), Art Gallery of New South Wales picturebook, Domain, 1972, 82 (colour illus.).
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, 48 (colour illus.), 103, 104.
Robert Hughes (Australia; United States of America, b.1938, d.2012) (Author), The art of Australia, Ringwood, 1970, 12, 54, 61, 63, 64 (illus.), 65, 80. plate no. 21
Ann Galbally (Australia) (Author), John Henshaw (New Zealand; Australia, b.1929, d.2006) (Editor), Arthur Streeton, Melbourne, 1969, 26, 28, 41. plate no. 17
James Gleeson (Australia, b.1915, d.2008) (Author), John Henshaw (New Zealand; Australia, b.1929, d.2006) (Editor), Masterpieces of Australian painting, Melbourne, 1969, 74, 75 (colour illus.). plate no. 22
'Sir Arthur Streeton' by John Olsen, pg. 161., Art and Australia [series 3, vol. 1, no. 3] Nov 1963, Nov 1963, 161.
Lionel Lindsay (Australia, b.1874, d.1961) (Author), Robert Campbell (Australia, b.1902, d.1972) (Author), Australia paintings by Arthur Streeton and Arthur Boyd: the XXIX Biennale Venice 1958, Australia, 1958. cat.no. 2
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, 200.
Hal Missingham (Australia, b.1906, d.1994) (Author), A retrospective exhibition of Australian painting, Domain, 1953. cat.no. 66
'Reflections on the heidelburg School 1885 - 1900' by Ursula Hoff, pg. 125-133., Meanjin Winter 1951, Winter 1951, 131.
Herbert Badham (Australia, b.1899, d.1961) (Author), A study of Australian art, Sydney, 1949, 66.
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, 2, 5. cat.no. 4
'Letters from Streeton with annotations' pg. 3-137., Smike to bulldog: letters from Sir Arthur Streeton to Tom Roberts 1946, 1946, 17, 20, 21, 59.
Lionel Lindsay (Australia, b.1874, d.1961) (Author), Streeton memorial exhibition souvenir catalogue, Sydney, 1945, (illus.). cat.no. 33
The advertiser 08 Nov 1944, 08 Nov 1944, 4.
Argus 05 Sep 1944, 05 Sep 1944, 6.
Robert Croll (Australia, b.1867, d.1947) (Author), Lionel Lindsay (Australia, b.1874, d.1961) (Author), Arthur Streeton memorial exhibition, Adelaide, 1944. cat.no. 1
Julian Ashton (England; Australia, b.1851, d.1942) (Author), Now came still evening on, Sydney, 1941, 102.
Lionel Lindsay (Australia, b.1874, d.1961) (Author), 150 years of Australian art, Sydney, 1938, (colour illus.). cat.no. 201
Arthur Streeton (Australia; England; Australia, b.1867, d.1943), The Arthur Streeton catalogue, Melbourne, 1935, 116. cat.no. 14. Note that the title of this work in this catalogue is '"Fire's" on Glenbrook'.
Robert Croll (Australia, b.1867, d.1947) (Author), Tom Roberts: father of Australian landscape painting, Melbourne, 1935, 173, 174, 195.
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, 96.
'Sreeton's loan exhibition' by Lionel Lindsay, pg. 8-9., Art in Australia [vol. 3, no. 42] Feb 1932, Feb 1932, 8.
'Arthur Streeton' by Lionel Lindsay, pg. 9-11., Art in Australia [series 3, no. 40] 15 Oct 1931, 15 Oct 1931, 11.
Herald 12 Sep 1924, 12 Sep 1924, 6.
Farmer & Co Limited (estab. 1897) (Compilator), Catalogue exhibition and sale of paintings by Arthur Streeton, Sydney, Nov 1923, 5.
Sydney Ure Smith (Australia, b.1887, d.1949) (Editor), Sir Bertram Stevens (Editor), Charles Lloyd Jones (Australia, b.1878, d.1958) (Editor), The art of Arthur Streeton, Sydney, 1919, 3, (colour illus.), 14. plate no. X
'Arthur Streeton's place in Australian Art' by Lionel Lindsay., Art in Australia [vol. 1, no. 2] 1917, 1917. not paginated
‘National Art Gallery: The Australian Court’ by Julian Ashton., Daily telegraph 27 Sep 1905, 27 Sep 1905, unknown.
'Arthur Streeton, artist and his Australian work' by D.H.Souter, pg. 225-229., Art and architecture: the journal of the Institute of Architects of New South Wales 1905, 1905, 225, 227 (illus.).
Bulletin 01 Dec 1900, 01 Dec 1900, [red page].
Australian art review 01 Dec 1899, 01 Dec 1899, 25.
National Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874) (Author), Catalogue of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales 1899, Sydney, 1899. cat.no. 256, Oil Paintings-Australian
Daily telegraph 12 May 1898, 12 May 1898, 6.
Daily telegraph 05 May 1898, 05 May 1898, 6.
The Sydney Morning Herald 25 May 1895, 25 May 1895, 6.
The year's art 1895, 1895, 222.
Sydney mail and New South Wales advertiser 09 Sep 1893, 09 Sep 1893, 544.
Table talk 08 Sep 1893, 08 Sep 1893, 10.
Illustrated Australian news 08 Sep 1893, 08 Sep 1893, 10.
'The Art Society', pg. 3., The Sydney Morning Herald 04 Sep 1893, 04 Sep 1893, 3.
The Sydney Morning Herald 01 Sep 1893, 01 Sep 1893, 6.
The Sydney Morning Herald 31 Aug 1893, 31 Aug 1893, 4.
'Art Society's exhibition', pg. 3., The Sydney Morning Herald 17 Aug 1893, 17 Aug 1893, 3.
National Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874) (Author), Catalogue of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales 1893, Sydney, 1893. cat.no. 430, Australian Court-Supplement, titled 'Fire's On!'
Illustrated Australian news 01 Jul 1892, 01 Jul 1892, 7.
Sun (Melbourne) 03 Jun 1892, 03 Jun 1892, 10.
Table talk 03 Jun 1892, 03 Jun 1892, 8.
Age 27 May 1892, 27 May 1892, 6.
Argus 26 May 1892, 26 May 1892, 6.
Bohemia 21 Jan 1892, 21 Jan 1892, 11.
Trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales: Minutes 1.9.1891-4.5.1898 1891-1898, 1891-1898. 30 August 1893, 26 September 1893, 17 October 1893, 6 August 1896
- Exhibition history (31)
-
Exhibition of paintings, sculpture and drawings, Victorian Artists Society, 27 May 1892 -.
Fourteenth Annual Exhibition of the Art Society of New South Wales (1893), Society Rooms, Union Chambers, 1893 -.
Streeton's Sydney sunshine exhibition (1896), Exhibition Venue Unknown, 30 Nov 1896 -.
Loan exhibition of the works of Arthur Streeton, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 20 Nov 1931–20 Jan 1932.
150 years of Australian art (1938), National Art Gallery of New South Wales, 27 Jan 1938–25 Apr 1938.
Arthur Streeton memorial exhibition, National Gallery of Victoria [Swanston Street], 05 Sep 1944–07 Oct 1944.
Arthur Streeton memorial exhibition, National Gallery of South Australia, 09 Nov 1944–10 Dec 1944.
Arthur Streeton memorial exhibition, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 12 Apr 1945–20 May 1945.
100 years of Australian painting (1948), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 19 Apr 1948–17 May 1948.
A retrospective exhibition of Australian painting, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 25 Sep 1953–25 Oct 1953.
Australian paintings by Arthur Streeton and Arthur Boyd: The XXIX Venice Biennale (1958), Exhibition Venue Unknown, 1958–1958.
Fifteen decades of Australian painting, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 10 Apr 1981–24 May 1981.
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.
The great Australian art exhibition, Queensland Art Gallery, 17 May 1988–17 Jul 1988.
The great Australian art exhibition, Art Gallery of Western Australia, 13 Aug 1988–25 Sep 1988.
The great Australian art exhibition, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 21 Oct 1988–27 Nov 1988.
The great Australian art exhibition, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, 21 Dec 1988–05 Feb 1989.
The great Australian art exhibition, National Gallery of Victoria [St Kilda Road], 01 Mar 1989–30 Apr 1989.
The great Australian art exhibition, Art Gallery of South Australia, 23 May 1989–16 Jul 1989.
Arthur Streeton, National Gallery of Victoria [St Kilda Road], 08 Dec 1995–12 Feb 1996.
Arthur Streeton, Art Gallery of South Australia, 01 Mar 1996–14 Apr 1996.
Arthur Streeton, Art Gallery of Western Australia, 01 May 1996–16 Jun 1996.
Arthur Streeton, Queensland Art Gallery, 08 Jul 1996–25 Aug 1996.
Arthur Streeton, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 11 Oct 1996–24 Nov 1996.
Australian icons: twenty artists from the collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 04 Aug 2000–03 Dec 2000.
Inventing New Britain: the Victorian vision, Victoria and Albert Museum, 05 Apr 2001–29 Jul 2001.
Australian Impressionism, Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, 31 Mar 2007–08 Jul 2007.
The Triumph of landscape: Turner to Monet, National Gallery of Australia, 14 Mar 2008–09 Jul 2008.
