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"Entrance of Port Jackson from a boat close under the South Head"
Artist: Raper, George
Created: [1789]
Dimensions: 32.4 x 49.5 cm
Reference: Raper Drawing - no. 15

 
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View of the entrance to Port Jackson, with the boat of the title from which Raper made the drawing depicted in the foreground at lower left. It is sailing close to the high cliffs of the South Head, which are represented with a pale yellow wash overlaid with dark grey shading and horizontal bands representing the strata of the sandstone. The cliffs have stippled green foliage at the top. The white cliffs of the North Head are depicted towards the right of the composition in the mid-distance, with the grey-green hills of the northern shore receding towards the centre. The sea is represented by a gradated pale grey-blue wash overlaid with horizontal grey brush marks which curve up towards the left, where the waves can be seen breaking against the base of the cliffs. The sky has a faint pink stain on the horizon, with pale yellow and blue washes towards the top. The drawing is framed with a thick black ink line and a triple-banded border, the central band of which is coloured with a pink wash and contains the title. The signature and date are located in the inner band at lower right. Most of the outer band appears to have been lost through the drawing having been cropped.

 
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  • George Raper]
  • The drawing is inscribed in black ink at the bottom "ENTRANCE of PORT JACKSON from a Boat close under the SOUTH HEAD".
  • The drawing is signed and dated at lower right "GEO: RapeR. # 1789~".
  • The drawing is inscribed in pencil at bottom left with the number "15", at top right "14" and on the reverse "26".
  • 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 15115
  • Miss Eva Godman donated 1962
  • Data sheet available.
  • Hindwood, K.A. 'George Raper: an Artist of the First Fleet', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Australian Historical Society, Vol. 50, Pt. 1, 1964 pp.32-57.
  • 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 (Pl.74, p.79).