Description

212pp., hardbound with coloured dust-jacket, dark blue cloth, gilted title on spine, with text and numerous black & white and colour illustrations. ISBN: 0-7305-8917-X.

The paintings of Conrad Martens, Australia’s most prominent colonial artist, are included in public and private collections throughout the world. The largest number is held by the State Library of New South Wales in Sydney, which has many manuscripts and journals, 29 oil paintings, 118 watercolours and 1,535 smaller drawings. These have provided an extraordinarily rich background for the research by Elizabeth Ellis, Curator of Pictures for the Library. [from the Dust Jacket].

This magnificent book presents for the first time many of his lesser-known works which demonstrate the breadth of his art – far beyond the views of Sydney Harbour known to all Australians, we are able to see his major paintings, as well as many of his lesser-known landscapes, detailed drawings, cloud and botanical studies. It also provides a unique illustrated catalogue listing of the major works and associated material held by the Library.