The great cultural project of the nineteenth century was to explore the relations between man and nature, to learn to see nature as the fingerprint of God's creation ...No previous age had brought such passionate scrutiny to nature, from the highest Alp to the smallest pollen of grain...Robert Hughes, American Visions (1996)

What connects the Australian to the American experience is a kind of inner imaginative awakening.
Patrick McCaughey, Director, Yale Center for British Art

Visit Education Kit

Landscape is undoubtedly one of the most popular and universally loved themes in the history of Western art. This exhibition presents the broad sweep of landscape painting during one of its most exciting eras of development — the 19th century. In many ways the 19th century landscape painters reflected thoughts and deep feelings about the natural world which are still potent as we approach the 21st century.

Examining two great traditions of landscape painting of the 19th century, those of Australia and America, the exhibition will explore how artists steeped in 'old world' traditions reacted when confronted by landscapes of the 'new world'.

This once in a lifetime exhibition includes 100 of the best landscape paintings ever produced in Australia and America. Many of the works have never been shown before in this country — these include all of the American masterpieces and two unique Australian works by John Glover which have been in the Louvre since 1841.

Australian artists include Augustus Earle, Conrad Martens, Eugene von Guérard, John Glover, and Arthur Streeton. American artists include Thomas Cole, Frederic Church, Albert Bierstadt, Winslow Homer and Frederic Remington.

Education kit: A complimentary education kit containing a CD-ROM and printed images and text will be sent to booked education groups before their visit. The disc contains information and activities related to the exhibition, including images, and is suitable for primary and secondary students.

ESSO in the Gallery: Esso Australia Ltd. is pleased to be associated with the National Gallery of Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria to help make possible the exhibition of 19th century Australian and American landscape paintings.

While Esso's main contribution to Australia is as a major producer of oil and natural gas, the company also believes it is important to contribute to the quality and character of life in the community.

Esso wishes to congratulate the National Gallery of Australia for organising this exciting exhibition.

 

National Gallery of Victoria
Melbourne 3 June – 10 August 1998

Wadsworth Atheneum
Hartford, Connecticut  12 September 1998 – 4 January 1999

The Corcoran Gallery of Art
Washington DC 26 January – 18 April 1999