When John Lewin stepped off the boat in Sydney, Australia on January 11, 1800, he was about to wield his paintbrush as the first free-settler professional artist in a wild frontier land. He's already missed his first boat to Australia, the Buffalo, which his wife Anna Maria (also and artist) had boarded 18 months earlier.
So, he took the long journey to Australia alone, and he began his life in a new land amid controversy, when Anna Maria was accused in court of misconduct with the Buffalo's second mate - a charge which she was acquitted of.
Nonetheless, once he was settled, Lewin painted some of the earliest and most valuable paintings of Australia's fauna and flora, exhibiting a relaxed style at odds with the traditional European art, but well suited to the colonies.
John Lewin died in Sydney in 1819 as is buried at Botany Bay.
The Tasmanian Tiger, now extinct.
His work is beautiful. An interesting painting of the Tasmanian Tiger.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting Bill, longer in the body I thought.
DeleteWhat is more surprising is that his work survived and was protected. Thankfully.
ReplyDeleteA treasure to have Hel. We are lucky it did survive.
DeleteAmazing art!
ReplyDeleteIndeed Anne.
DeleteBeautiful art work!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully painted Angie.
DeleteBuenos trabajos de acuarela. Todos los motivos son preciosos.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
I was pleased to come across them when I did.
DeleteNot someone I am familiar with but his artwork is damn good, I like it
ReplyDeleteIt's not bad at all Jo-Anne, and nice to know someone painted our creatures and flowers, guess there were others that did also.
DeleteI am glad his work survived. Did any of his wife's?
ReplyDeleteI researched his wife's paintings and didn't come up with anything, so I guess not. Maybe she took them back to England with her as I believe she died there.
DeleteA valuable contribution to the history of Australian flora and fauna.
ReplyDeleteIndeed David.
DeleteReally stunning paintings!
ReplyDeleteI like them too Duta, and they are stunning.
DeleteThese paintings are gorgeous
ReplyDeleteYes they certainly are.
DeleteVery beautiful paintings. I didn't know about the Eastern Ground Parrot, and seeing a red and grey kangaroo together, which I don't think is normal, makes me wonder if reds and greys ever breed together.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about the Eastern Ground Parrot either Andrew. They could have bred who knows, or maybe just neighbours.
DeleteBeautiful work and all with a "soft" look, much nicer than some of the blindingly garish modern stuff. Like Andrew I thought red and grey kangaroos kept separate.
ReplyDeleteThey do have that lovely soft pleasant look to the eye look R. Well, they could have been neighbours or he might have just painted them together those roos.
DeleteVery nice presentation of some of John Lewin's works!
ReplyDeleteThanks Katerinas.
DeleteMe parecen preciosos Margaret, gracias por darlos a conocer. Un abrazo.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Teresa.
DeleteThese paintings are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI think the parakeet is the most beautiful.
This John Lewin died far too young, he was only nineteen years old.
Greetings Irma
Irma, John came to Australia in 1800, was born in 1770 and died in 1819 so he was 49 years of age, still too young to die.
DeleteHis paintings are indeed wonderful.
His work is amazing. Why is the AI girl watching me?
ReplyDeleteIt is. She is watching you because you looked at her..lol
DeleteThank you for sharing this beautiful art. Very interesting about both John Lewin and his wife. Fascinating about the parrot being only one of four ground parrots in the world. The Tasmanian Tiger, did they have a very old movie of the last one? I seem to remember seeing it once but don’t know if my memory is playing tricks on me. Another very interesting post Margaret, thanks again.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of that parrot who only flies in the evening etc Denise. I doubt if he had a movie to paint that Tasmanian Tiger he might have painted if he visited the Zoo which had one. I can't seem to find out.
DeleteVery special paintings, I enjoyed seeing them.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
They are indeed Jan.
DeleteHello Margaret,
ReplyDeleteThat's very special. Great to see these old paints. Good that they have been preserved. Very nice!!
Many greetings,
Marco
It is good that they have been kept well, they could easily have been lost.
DeleteThank you Marco.