Charles Leski to auction George Edwards Peacock's views of early Sydney on 15 June 2005 |
Charles Leski to auction George Edwards Peacock's views of early Sydney on 15 June 2005 For the first time since the 1980s, there is an opportunity to purchase a remarkable set of views of early Sydney. In 1843, artist George Edwards Peacock (1806-1890) was commissioned by the owner of 'Craigend', a mansion in Darlinghurst, to paint six views of, and from, the house. Colonel Rogers bought 'Craigend' from Sir Thomas Mitchell and was one George Peacock's first patrons. Peacock had a fascinating past. In 1836 he was sentenced to death for forging power of attorney on shares valued at nearly 8,000 pounds, belonging to his brother. However, the death sentence was commuted to transportation for life. He arrived at Sydney in 1837. Trained as a solicitor, and so a 'special' or educated prisoner, he was given clerical duties. His wife and son joined him in Port Macquarie.
Shortly after, his wife left for Sydney and Peacock petitioned authorities to transfer him to the meteorological station at South Head. He was conditionally pardoned in 1845 and continued to work at the station for another ten years when it appears the station was discontinued and at which point he faded from the public record. His marriage failed and disbarred from practising law, there is a theory that he continued to paint until the 1880s. At this time, Conrad Martens (1801-1878) was also active in New South Wales having come to Sydney in 1835. Martens achieved great recognition and success for his landscapes and his warm romantic style seems to have influenced Peacock, although Peacock painted in oils rather than Martens' preferred medium of watercolour. The Dictionary of Australian Artists, Painters, Sketchers, Photographers & Engravers to 1870 ( Joan Kerr (Ed), Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1992) states that Peacock's work 'focus on topographical detail, combined with...lyrical beauty...' and that his work 'has considerable historical as well as aesthetic interest' because of this topographical fidelity. Peacock's most active period was from 1843 to 1852. One of the Craigend paintings is dated 1843 and is perhaps his earliest dated work. The Craigend paintings represent an important phase in colonial art history. The otherwise vile, convict open-air prison is romantically recast as a bountiful European townscape. This transformation parallels the rehabilitation of the disgraced convict to respected artist. The paintings are each annotated on the back and numbered by the artist. All are in pristine condition. They will be auctioned at Charles Leski Auctions on 15 June 2005. This sale contains many other paintings of interest, as well as important consignments of early photographs. A Picasso crayon drawing bought at Sotheby's London in the 1980s should attract much interest, as will a lost oil by the notable colonial artist Thomas Clark (1814-1883), which has been residing in a garage after being saved from a tip. The photographs include a unique archive compiled by Kathleen Armstrong (1885-1967). Armstrong was the leader of the Physical Culture movement for girls between the wars. There is a c.1916 photograph of her 'judo-ing' a Japanese man to the ground. Boer War slides also feature, including one of the 'Cripples Handicap' depicting legless soldiers racing with their crutches. It is often said that Leski's is the most interesting auction house in Australia, and this auction continues the three decade old tradition. Auction 264 - Art, Artworks & Early Photography |
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