First Fleet artwork collection

Aboriginal man in profile, facing to the right, holding a fish gig in his right hand and a throwing stick in his left. The man is naked and his skin is dark brown with black shading, with a black mark on his upper arm representing a cicatrix. He is depicted standing on brown rocks in front of the sea, which is represented by a pale blue gradated wash overlaid in the foreground with grey horizontal lines. in the distance to the left there is a high cliff, coloured cream with grey streaks. The horizon is quite low, with a red stain in the sky which is not strongly reflected in the water. Parts of the sky are unpainted, but there are patches of blue wash towards the top. The drawing is framed by a double-banded ink border, with the inner band filled in with black ink.

• Port Jackson Painter]
• The drawing is inscribed in blue pencil at top right with the number "63", which refers to the pre-1984 numbering system for the Watling Collection.
• The drawing is unsigned and undated.
• A separate label of laid paper measuring 2.7 x 15.2 cm. is attached to the mount below the drawing. It is inscribed in pale brown ink "+.. A Native of New south Wales with a Fizgig and a throwing stick in his Hand. the throwing sticks is always used with the war Spear and not with the Fizgig". It is inscribed in pencil at lower right with the number "63".
• The author of this catalogue record is Suzanne Stenning.
• By permission of the trustees of the Natural History Museum (London).
• Two sets of transparencies held in the Natural History Museum (London) Zoology Library and Picture Library: Picture Library order number 12054
• James Lee of Kensington : purchased ; 1902
• Data sheet available.
• Wheeler, A. and Smith, B, (eds.) The Art of the First Fleet and other early Australian Drawings. New Haven and London, Yale University Press, 1988. (Plate 35, p. 46.)