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Collection

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Eugene von Guérard

(England, Australia, Germany, Austria 17 Nov 1811–17 Apr 1901)

Title

Milford Sound, New Zealand

Other titles:

Milford Sound with Pembroke Peak and Bowen Falls on the west coast of Middle Island, New Zealand
Mitre Peak, Milford Sound. Southern Island, New Zealand

Place of origin

Melbourne → Victoria → Australia

Year

1877-1879

Media category

Painting

Materials used

oil on canvas

Dimensions

99.2 x 176.0cm stretcher; 137.5 x 213.5 x 14.0cm frame

Signature & date

Signed and dated l.r., red/brown oil "J: Eugene von Guérard/ 1877.9.".

Credit

Purchased 1970

Accession number

OA1.1970

Location

19th c Australian art

Further information

'Milford Sound' is ranked highly among Eugene von Guérard’s sublime Romantic interpretations of the landscape. The spectacular fiord in New Zealand’s South Island held a strong appeal for the artist. Encompassing the view to the north-west, seen from the head of Milford Sound, the painting also depicts the vessel on which von Guérard had travelled to the fiord, at anchor below Cascade Peak.

Produced in his Melbourne studio, 'Milford Sound' was worked up from numerous earlier drawings made on the spot. The painting is broadly faithful to these sketches, in accordance with an approach grounded in the principles of German Romanticism.

The richly decorated 19th-century frame was made by Isaac Whitehead, the most prominent frame-maker in Melbourne throughout the 1860s and 1870s.

Bibliography (63)

Agnes Husslein-Acro (Austria, b.1954) (Editor), Orient & Occident: travelling 19th century Austrian painters, Vienna, Jun 2012, 239, 240 (colour illus.). fig.no. 6

‘Eugene von Guérard: Nature Revealed’ by David Hansen, pg. 674-675., Art & Australia Winter 2012, Winter 2012, 675 (colour illus.).

Simon Gregg (Author), New romantics: darkness and light in Australian art, North Melbourne, 2011, 109, 110 (colour illus.), 111.

Ruth Pullin (Australia) (Author), Eugene von Guérard: nature revealed, Melbourne, 2011, 41, 262, 264 (colour illus.), 265, 296.

'Painting restoration' by Simon Ives, pg. 108-110., Artist profile [issue 16] 2011, 2011, 108-109 (colour illus.), 110.

‘Eugéne von Guérard and the Geognostic Landscape of New Zealand’ by Ruth Pullin, pg. 1-16., The journal of New Zealand art history 2009, 2009, 10,11 (colour illus.), 12, 14.

Christine Dixon (Author), Turner to Monet: the triumph of landscape painting, Canberra, 2008, 164, 165 (colour illus.). cat.no. 58

John McDonald (Australia, b.1961) (Author), Art of Australia. Vol. 1: Exploration to Federation, Sydney, 2008, 202-203 (colour illus.).

Deborah Hart (South Africa; United Kingdom; Australia, b.1959) (Curator), Imants Tillers (Australia, b.1950) (Artist), Imant Tillers: one world many visions, Canberra, 2006, 33 (colour illus.).

Helen Verity Hewitt (Australia) (Author), Patrick White, painter, manqué: paintings, painters and their influence on his writing, Carlton, 2002, 117.

'Eugène von Guérard', pg. 3-10., Senior artwise: visual arts 11-12 2000, 2000, 4 (illus.), 5, 10. plate no. 1.2

Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Australian art: in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Domain, 2000, 18, 32 (colour illus.), 300.

Nicholas Thomas (Australia) (Author), Possessions: indigenous art / colonial culture, London, 1999, 81 (illus.), 294. illus.no. 38

'Displaying Our Dreams: Te Papa's Dream Collectors' by Julie King, pg. 70-73., Art New Zealand Winter 1999, Winter 1999, 71. Review of Dream Collectors exhibition

'A collection of visions'., Evening post 10 Feb 1998, 10 Feb 1998, 12. Review of Dream Collectors exhibition

'Dream Collectors: 100 years of art in New Zealand'., Friends Newsletter (issue 26) Feb 1998, Feb 1998. Review of Dream Collectors exhibition

Te Papa - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (New Zealand, estab. 1998) (Author), Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki (New Zealand, estab. 1888) (Author), Dream Collectors: One hundred years of art in New Zealand, Wellington, 1998, 17, 32, 33 (colour illus.).

'Patrick White's Choice' by Helen Verity Hewitt, pg. 244-250., Art and Australia (Vol. 36, No. 2) 1998, 1998, 248.

'Duelling artists' by Pat Baskett., The New Zealand herald 13 May 1997, 13 May 1997. Dream Collectors exhibition publicity

Wonderland of the world: tourism development in Fiordland, NZ. Thematic study and discussion of the usefulness of themes as a tool in Heritage Management. 1997, 1997. General reference

‘God in nature: portraying the country’ by Mary Eagle, pg. 52-70., A story of Australian painting 1994, 1994, 56.

Charles Eldredge (United States of America) (Author), Pacific parallels: artists and the landscape in New Zealand, Washington D.C., 1991, 25, 26, 27, 78 (colour illus.), 164. titled 'Milford Sound with Pembroke Peak and Bowen Falls on the West Coast of the Middle Island, New Zealand'

Michael Dunn (Australia, b.1942) (Author), A concise history of New Zealand painting, Auckland, 1991, 4, 19, 20, 21 (colour illus.). plate no. 8; titled 'Milford Sound, New Zealand'

‘Exhibition reviews: Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch New Zealand Art’ by Mark Stocker, pg. 441-442., The Burlington Magazine Jun 1990, Jun 1990, 441.

'Art review: N.Z. landscape art' by Ian Lochhead., The Press 14 Apr 1990, 14 Apr 1990. Review of Two centuries of New Zealand landscape art exhibition.

'Sweeping panorama' by Keith Stewart, pg. 102-105., Listener & Tv Times 02 Apr 1990, 02 Apr 1990, 105. Review of Two centuries of New Zealand landscape art exhibition.

'Spanning the centuries' by Camille Guy, pg. 6., The New Zealand herald 27 Mar 1990, 27 Mar 1990, 6 (illus.). Review of Two centuries of New Zealand landscape art exhibition.

'Vista embrace two centuries' by Jack Leigh., The New Zealand herald Feb 1990, Feb 1990. Review of Two centuries of New Zealand landscape art exhibition.

'Lively arts: back to the land' by Peter Shaw, pg. 156-157., Metro Feb 1990, Feb 1990, 157. Review of Two centuries of New Zealand landscape art exhibition.

Roger Blackley (New Zealand, b.1953) (Author), Two centuries of New Zealand landscape art, Auckland, 1990, 41, 42 (colour illus.). titled 'Milford Sound with Pembroke Peak and Bowen Falls on the West Coast of Middle Island, New Zealand'

Images in opposition: Australian landscape painting 1801-1890 1985, 1985, 79, 80, 81.

Candice Bruce (Australia) (Author), Edward Cornstock (Author), Frank McDonald (Australia) (Author), Eugene von Guérard: A German Romantic in the Antipodes, Martinborough, 1982, 50, 158, 172, 267, 268 (colour illus.), 269, 270. cat.no. 157; plate no 45; titled 'Milford Sound with Pembroke Peak and Bowen Falls'; dated 1877; Private Collection

Patrick White (England; Australia, b.1912, d.1990) (Author), Patrick White's Choice, Sydney, Dec 1981. cat.no. 1; titled 'Milford Sound with Pembroke Peak and Bower Falls on the west coast of Middle Island, New Zealand'

'The man who preceded the Heidelberg School' by Mary Eagle, pg. 8., The Age 24 Dec 1980, 24 Dec 1980, 8. Review of von Guerard exhibition

'Significant place of Von Guerard' by James Fairfax., The Sydney Morning Herald 07 Jun 1980, 07 Jun 1980. Review of von Guerard exhibition

Candice Bruce (Australia) (Author), Eugen von Guérard, Canberra, 1980, 76 (colour illus.), 77 (colour illus., detail), 90, 117 (illus.). titled 'Milford Sound with Pembroke Peak and Bower Falls on the west coast of Middle Island, New Zealand'

Renée Free (Australia) (Author), Patricia McDonald (Author), Sydney International Exhibition 1879: An exhibition celebrating the Centenary of the Sydney International Exhibition, Sydney, 1979, 41. titled 'Milford Sound, New Zealand'

Daniel Thomas (Author), Australian art in the 1870s, Sydney, 1976, 18. cat.no. 34; titled 'Milford Sound with Pembroke Peak and Bowen Falls on the West Coast of Middle Island, New Zealand'

John Hall-Jones (New Zealand, active 1970s) (Author), Fiordland explored: an illustrated history, Wellington, 1976. General reference

Marjorie Tipping (b.1917) (Author), Eugen von Guérard's Australian Landscapes, Melbourne, 1975, 32.

Gerard Hall-Jones (New Zealand, active 1970s) (Editor), Handbook to the Fiordland National Park, New Zealand, 1973. General reference

Editor Unknown (Editor), Art Gallery of New South Wales picturebook, Domain, 1972, 71 (colour illus.). titled 'Milford Sound, New Zealand'

Christie's, Australia Pty. Ltd. (Australia) (Author), Sale Catalogue, 06 Mar 1970, 57, 58 (colour illus.). lot no. 95; titled 'Milford Sound, Sound Island, New Zealand'

A.H. McLintock (New Zealand, active 1960s) (Editor), An encyclopaedia of New Zealand, Wellington, 1966, 48A, 555, 574, 575. General reference of region

'Art in New Zealand' by J.A. Blaikie, pg. 32-36., The magazine of art 1887, 1887, 32 (illus.), 35. titled 'Milford Sound'

‘The November Magazines. No. II.’, pg. 7., The Argus 03 Jan 1887, 03 Jan 1887, 7. Review of J.A. Blaikie’s article 'Art in New Zealand' in The Magazine of Art 1887.

Editor Unknown (Author), Colonial and Indian exhibition, London, 1886: catalogue of New Zealand exhibits., London, 1886, 3. titled 'Milford Sound'; Collection F.G. Dalgety, Esq; Section New Zealand Group, Works of Art, Class 1.

‘The pictures which have gained awards’, pg. 7., The Argus 16 Mar 1881, 16 Mar 1881, 7. Fourth Order of Merit - E. von Guerard, "Milford Sound".

‘Melbourne International Exhibition awards’, pg. 6., The Argus 04 May 1881, 04 May 1881, 6. II. - E. von Guerard - Milford Sound, N.Z.

'The Exhibition', pg. 7., The Sydney Morning Herald 11 May 1880, 11 May 1880, 7. Victoria: Von E. Guerard, “Milford Sound, New Zealand”- extra first.

'Sydney Exhibition awards (by electric telegraph)’, pg. 5., The Argus 19 Apr 1880, 19 Apr 1880, 5.

Editor Unknown (Author), Melbourne International Exhibition 1880: The official catalogue of the exhibits with introductory notices of the countries exhibiting., Melbourne, 1880. cat.no. 85; titled 'Milford Sound, New Zealand'; Section Class 1 - oil paintings. Awarded Second Order of Merit.

New Zealand Mail 06 Dec 1879, 06 Dec 1879.

Author Unknown (Author), Sydney International Exhibition: Official catalogue of exhibits, Sydney, 1879, 467. cat.no. 306; titled 'Milford Sound, with Pembroke Peak and Bowen Falls'. Awarded a First Degree of Merit Special for Landscape Painting.

Offices of the Royal Commission (England, estab. 1878) (Editor), Paris Universal Exposition of 1878: Catalogue of the British Colonies, London, 1878, 108. cat.no. 1

'The Academy of Arts exhibition', pg. 8., The Argus 17 Mar 1877, 17 Mar 1877, 8.

C.F. Nicholls (Australia) (Editor), Victorian men of the time, Melbourne, 1877, 75.

Victorian Academy of Arts (Australia, estab. 1870, closed 1888) (Author), The seventh exhibition of the Victorian Academy of Arts, Melbourne, 1877, 6. cat.no. 42; titled 'Milford Sound, with Pembroke Peak and Bowen Falls'

'Facts & scraps', pg. 171-174., The Australasian Sketcher: with Pen and Pencil 20 Jan 1877, 20 Jan 1877, 174. Article quotes passage from The Argus, January 2nd 1887, pg. 4.

‘The Academy of Arts exhibition’, pg. 8., The Argus 17 Mar 1877, 17 Mar 1877, 8.

The Argus 02 Jan 1877, 02 Jan 1877, 4.

'The Otago's trip to Milford Sound'., Otago daily times 28 Jan 1876, 28 Jan 1876.

'A holiday excursion to New Zealand'., Age 23 Jan 1875, 23 Jan 1875. General reference

Exhibition history (15)

Sydney International Exhibition (1879-80), The Garden Palace, 17 Sep 1879–20 Apr 1880.

Melbourne International Exhibition (1880-81), Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne, 01 Oct 1880–30 Apr 1881.

Colonial and Indian Exhibition (1886), Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences, 1886–1886.

Australian art in the 1870s, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 25 Jun 1976–02 Aug 1976.

Australian art in the 1870s, National Gallery of Victoria [St Kilda Road], 28 Oct 1976–21 Nov 1976.

Sydney International Exhibition 1879: An exhibition celebrating the Centenary of the Sydney International Exhibition, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, 24 Sep 1979–24 Nov 1979.

Eugene von Guérard, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jun 1980–Jul 1980.

Eugene von Guérard, Queensland Art Gallery, Aug 1980–Aug 1980.

Eugene von Guérard, City of Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Sep 1980–Oct 1980.

Eugene von Guérard, Art Gallery of South Australia, Nov 1980–Nov 1980.

Eugene von Guérard, National Gallery of Victoria [St Kilda Road], Dec 1980–Jan 1981.

Patrick White's Choice, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 22 Dec 1981–31 Jan 1982.

The Dream Collectors, Te Papa - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 14 Feb 1998–19 Jul 1998.

The Triumph of landscape: Turner to Monet, National Gallery of Australia, 14 Mar 2008–09 Jul 2008.

Eugene von Guérard: nature revealed, Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, 16 Apr 2011–07 Aug 2011.