Title
The variegated lizard of New South Wales
1807
Artist
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Details
- Date
- 1807
- Media category
- Watercolour
- Materials used
- pencil, watercolour, opaque white, gum on paper
- Dimensions
- 26.3 x 45.3 cm sight; 75.0 x 91.5 x 4.2cm frame
- Signature & date
Signed and dated l.r., pen and black ink "JW Lewin A.L.S./ Dem. 23. 1807".
- Credit
- Edward Stinson Bequest Fund 1990
- Location
- South Building, ground level, Grand Courts
- Accession number
- 486.1990
- Copyright
- Artist information
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J W Lewin
Works in the collection
- Share
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About
Lewin’s watercolour depicts the lace monitor lizard
in its natural habitat in south-eastern Australia. This
reptile is known as wirriga to the Eora and Dharug
people in the Sydney region. It was first recorded as
a variegated lizard by colonial Surgeon-General John
White in 1790.Lewin has faithfully recorded the creature’s
physical attributes in remarkable colour and detail.
By imaging the subject within a descriptive yet
atmospheric bushland setting, he transcends natural
history illustration into the realm of fine art.This work previously belonged to William Bligh,
Governor of New South Wales between 1806
and 1808. Lewin received patronage from several
governors who shared an interest in natural history
and understood the cultural, economic and political
importance of promoting the colony through
illustrations of its resources. -
Exhibition history
Shown in 7 exhibitions
Australian Art: colonial to modern, Deutscher Fine Art (Perth), Perth, 20 Aug 1986–25 Aug 1986
Australian Art: colonial to modern, Deutscher Fine Art (Sydney), Sydney, 05 Sep 1986–13 Sep 1986
The artist and the patron: Aspects of colonial art in New South Wales., Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 02 Mar 1988–01 May 1988
Drawing in Australia: drawings, watercolours, pastels and collages from the 1770s to the 1980s, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 30 Jul 1988–30 Oct 1988
Nineteenth century Australian watercolours from the collection (1991), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 13 Apr 1991–07 Jul 1991
Animals on paper: from the Australian collection of prints, drawings and watercolours, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 05 Sep 1992–05 Oct 1992
19th century Australian watercolours, drawings & pastels, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 06 Apr 2005–24 Jul 2005
Lewin: Wild Art, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, 05 Mar 2012–27 May 2012
Lewin: Wild Art, National Library of Australia, Canberra, 28 Jul 2012–28 Oct 2012
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Bibliography
Referenced in 10 publications
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Tim Bonyhady, The colonial image: Australian painting 1800-1880, Canberra, 1987, 7 (colour illus.).
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Deutscher Fine Art (Sydney), Australian art: colonial to modern, Sydney, 1986, (colour illus.). lot no. 3
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Hendrik Kolenberg., Nineteenth century Australian watercolours from the collection, 'Introduction', Sydney, 1991, (illus.). not paginated, cat.no. 34
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Hendrik Kolenberg, Animals on paper - from the Australian collection of prints, drawings and watercolours, Sydney, 1992. cat.no. 25
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Hendrik Kolenberg, Look, 'Australian images from the past: whether rarely seen or familiar, these works move and delight us', pg. 24-27, Sydney, Apr 2005, 24.
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Hendrik Kolenberg, Anne Ryan and Patricia James, 19th century Australian watercolours, drawing and pastels from the Gallery's collection, Sydney, 2005, 19 (colour illus.).
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Susan McCulloch, Alan McCulloch and Emily McCulloch Childs, The new McCulloch's encyclopedia of Australian art, Carlton, 2006, 613 (colour illus.).
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Barry Pearce, The artist and the patron - aspects of Colonial art in New South Wales, Sydney, 1988, 132 (colour illus.), 133. cat.no. 114
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Barry Pearce, Australian art: in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 'Introduction', pg. 10-16, Sydney, 2000, 10, 17, 19 (colour illus.), 301.
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Andrew Sayers, Drawing in Australia: drawings, water-colours, pastels and collages from the 1770s to the 1980s, Melbourne, 1989, 21 (colour illus.).
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