First Fleet artwork collection

Sheet of drawings of fishing implements and weapons, arranged around a central fishing scene in a rectangular frame. The central scene is framed by a single-banded border in black ink 11.4 x 13.8 cm and depicts two aborigines fishing from a canoe, one paddling and one leaning over the far side of the canoe with a spear. The men are painted in shades of grey with black markings on their chest and upper arms. There is a plume of smoke indicating a fire in the canoe between them, and fish-gigs protruding to the right. There is a yellow shoreline in the foreground and headlands on the horizon to left and right. The water is represented by a pale blue gradated wash overlaid with pale grey horizontal brush lines, and the sky is largely unpainted with some blue wash towards to the top and a pink stain on the horizon. The tools and weapons described in the annotation are arranged around this central image and are painted in shades of grey, with darker detail of bindings and attachments to indicate their construction. Most are plain but the carved club (number 5) is decorated with a geometric pattern. The drawing is framed by a triple-banded ink border with a central band of pink wash. The annotations in brown ink are at the bottom of the sheet, outside the frame.

• Port Jackson Painter
• The drawing is inscribed in blue pencil at top right with the number "86", which refers to the pre-1984 numbering system for the Watling Collection.
• The drawing is annotated in brown ink. The implements are numbered 1-12, with a key at lower left, "No. 1 WAR SPEARS. from 10. to 18. Feet. 2 FISH GIG. 3 a PADDLE. 2 feet. 4 a STONE AXE. handle 2 feet. 5 a CARVED CLUB. 26 Inches. 6 a VESSEL to contain Water & c Measuring from 1. to 2 Feet.", and lower right, "No. 7 THROWING STICK. from 2 to 3 Feet. 8 a PECULIAR CLUB 9 a SHIELD. 10 a SECTION OF THE INSIDE OF A SHIELD. 11 WOODEN SWORD 3 feet. 12 a FISH HOOK Snooded Middle Size."
• The drawing is unsigned and undated.
• A separate label is attached to the mount alongside the drawing at upper right. It is inscribed in pencil "Similar drawing in "Raper Drawings" No. 17." (number 18 in the current numbering system).
• The implements numbered 5 and 11 are also depicted in Watling drawing number 78, where they are given aboriginal names.
• 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 12077
• 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 43, p. 51.)