We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art stands and recognise the creative contribution First Australians make to the art and culture of this country.
Arthur Streeton / Australia 1867–1943 / Sunny cove 1893 / Oil on wood panel / 53.4 x 21cm / Purchased 1961 / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art
Arthur StreetonSunny cove 1893
Not Currently on Display
Tom Roberts founded the Curlew Camp on Little Sirius Cove in Sydney in 1891. Here he was joined by Arthur Streeton, and from 1896 they shared a city teaching studio. This work was done during this time and captures the impressionist play of light on the waters of the cove.
Arthur Streeton was born in 1867 near Geelong, Victoria. His family moved to Melbourne, and from 1882 to 1888 Streeton attended evening classes at the National Gallery of Victoria School of Design, where he participated in plein-air painting excursions to Heidelberg.
Streeton joined artists’ camps at Box Hill and Eaglemont in the late 1880s, together with Tom Roberts, Frederick McCubbin and Charles Conder. In about 1897, he sailed for Europe, spending time in Cairo and Italy before settling in London in 1899.
Streeton took pride in the grandeur of Australian nature, but his English experience led to an unimaginative style, quite different from his early Australian landscapes which are full of vitality, colour and light. In the 1920s, he returned to Melbourne where he lived until his death in 1943.
Discussion Questions
What is the focal point of this composition? How has Streeton used line and contrast to emphasise this feature in this painting?
Classroom Activities
Gather images of the outdoors from magazines. Identify the focal point in each of the images. Analyse how the image establishes a focal point by breaking down (roto-scoping, tracing, folding, cutting, rearranging) photocopies or scanned prints of the images.