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Arthur Streeton to be first Australian artist to feature in London's National Gallery Arthur Streeton to be first Australian artist to feature in London's National Gallery
(about 2 hours later)
London’s National Gallery is for the first time featuring a painting by an Australian artist.London’s National Gallery is for the first time featuring a painting by an Australian artist.
Arthur Streeton’s Blue Pacific, depicting cliffs and the sea at Coogee in Sydney, has been lent to the gallery by a private Australian collector for the next two years.Arthur Streeton’s Blue Pacific, depicting cliffs and the sea at Coogee in Sydney, has been lent to the gallery by a private Australian collector for the next two years.
The work, painted in 1890 by the prolific landscape painter from Victoria, went on show on Thursday alongside the French impressionist Claude Monet’s renowned Water Lilies.The work, painted in 1890 by the prolific landscape painter from Victoria, went on show on Thursday alongside the French impressionist Claude Monet’s renowned Water Lilies.
In the 1880s and 90s, Streeton was considered one of the most advanced landscape painters in Australia and was one of the first to adopt an impressionist style.In the 1880s and 90s, Streeton was considered one of the most advanced landscape painters in Australia and was one of the first to adopt an impressionist style.
The director of the National Gallery, Gabriele Finaldi, said the loan was part of a new direction for the gallery seeking to represent paintings in the western European tradition, rather than solely those of artists working in western Europe.The director of the National Gallery, Gabriele Finaldi, said the loan was part of a new direction for the gallery seeking to represent paintings in the western European tradition, rather than solely those of artists working in western Europe.
Related: The stories behind seven Australian paintings
“The National Gallery is keen to look at those artists worldwide who in the late 19th century felt the impact of European avant garde art,” he said.“The National Gallery is keen to look at those artists worldwide who in the late 19th century felt the impact of European avant garde art,” he said.
“Streeton was among a small group of adventurous Australian painters who, in the 1880s, fell under the spell of French impressionism and the spontaneous mode of painting it encouraged.“Streeton was among a small group of adventurous Australian painters who, in the 1880s, fell under the spell of French impressionism and the spontaneous mode of painting it encouraged.
“Here was a way of capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere in nature when depicting landscapes that had never been depicted before. We are very pleased this work will be coming on loan to the collection.”“Here was a way of capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere in nature when depicting landscapes that had never been depicted before. We are very pleased this work will be coming on loan to the collection.”
The curator, Christopher Riopelle, said Streeton demonstrated in Blue Pacific how impressionism could confront the “awesome landscape unique to Australia”.The curator, Christopher Riopelle, said Streeton demonstrated in Blue Pacific how impressionism could confront the “awesome landscape unique to Australia”.
“National landscape would be one of the central subjects of modern art and Streeton was at the forefront in exploring its implications.”“National landscape would be one of the central subjects of modern art and Streeton was at the forefront in exploring its implications.”
Streeton was born in Geelong in 1867 and moved to Sydney in 1890, becoming acclaimed for his paintings of Sydney Harbour, the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury river.Streeton was born in Geelong in 1867 and moved to Sydney in 1890, becoming acclaimed for his paintings of Sydney Harbour, the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury river.
He moved to Europe in 1897 and during the first world war was an official war artist in France before returning in 1923 to Australia, where he died in 1943 at Olinda, Victoria.He moved to Europe in 1897 and during the first world war was an official war artist in France before returning in 1923 to Australia, where he died in 1943 at Olinda, Victoria.