Sketches [including landscapes, portraits, and botanical drawings], 1850s / chiefly drawn by John Smedley

PXA 1161

fonds

1850s

Graphic Materials, Drawings

826064

1 album (56 drawings) - 33 x 24 cm - in pencil, ink, watercolour, pastel and gouache

John Smedley (1841-1903) was a Sydney born and trained artist and architect much influenced by his older cousin William Dexter (1817-1860) who was his teacher and mentor.

Reference:
Library correspondence file

1. Title inscription: ‘Sketches by Jno: Smedley/of Bulli’
2. Still life study: pomegranate and pineapple. Pencil, watercolour and gouache - 20.1 x 26.8 cm
3a. Floral study: daisies and celandine. Pencil and watercolour - 11.8 x 16.1 cm
3b. Still life study: plums. Pencil, watercolour and gouache - 13.1 x 19.4 cm
4a. Floral study: poppies. Pencil and watercolour - 16.8 x 13.2 cm
4b. Study: ducklings. Pencil and watercolour - 10.8 x 19.7 cm
5a. Study, copy?: mounted men in river. Pencil - 10.2 x 15.2 cm
5b. Study, copy?: smugglers’ feast. Pencil, ink and wash - 13 x 21.1 cm
6a. Study from sculpture: sleeping putto. Signed lower right: ‘J.S’. Ink and wash - 8.2 x 16.3 cm
6b. Still life study: peaches, pear and grapes in a pedestal bowl. Watercolour and gouache - 14.5 x 17.2 cm
7a. Study, copy?: fisherman drying nets. Watercolour and gouache - 12 x 17.8 cm
7b. Study, copy?: peasant figures on river punt. Signed lower right: ‘J.S’. Watercolour with Chinese white highlights - 9.9 x 18.6 cm
8a. Study, copy: scene from Scottish history. Pencil and watercolour - 12.1 x 18.1 cm
8b. Study: parrot fish and soldier fish. Signed lower right: ‘J.S’ and titled. Watercolour and gouache - 12.7 x 21.8 cm
9. Study, copy: head of a boy. Signed lower right: ‘J. Smedley’. Charcoal and pencil - 17.9 x 15.5 cm
10. Study from sculpture: bust of a child. Ink and wash - 26 x 18.3 cm
11. Landscape study: cabbage tree palms, attributed to William Dexter. Watercolour - 16.2 x 13 cm
12. Portrait study: woman with crucifix – Margaret Smedley (?), attributed to William Dexter. Pencil and watercolour - 25.2 x 17.7 cm
13. Portrait study: bald man with side whiskers – Samuel Smedley (?), attributed to William Dexter. Brown wash - 18.2 x 13.2 cm
14. Portrait study: woman with hand to brow - Margaret Smedley (?), attributed to William Dexter. Pencil, brown wash and scratching-out -
23.5 x 18.9 cm
15. Portrait study: bald man with side whiskers - Samuel Smedley (?),
Pencil and brown wash - 22.4 x 18.5 cm
16. Study: leaves, Pencil and brown wash with Chinese white highlights -
27.2 x 19 cm
17. Study: leaves. Pencil and brown wash with Chinese white highlights -
27.2 x 19.1 cm
18. Study (copy?): seascape with ketch. Pencil, watercolour and gouache with Chinese white - 15 x 25.1 cm
19. Study (copy): Arab with pipe and horse. Signed lower right in pencil: ‘J.S.’ Pencil. Ink and wash - 18.1 x 25.5 cm
20. Floral study: roses and daisies, William Dexter. Ssignature lower right in pencil: ‘Dexter.' Watercolour with Chinese white highlights bears - 21.5 x 26.1 cm
21. Floral study: roses. Pencil and watercolour - 19.3 x 27.7 cm
22. Study (copy?): sheep. Pencil and watercolour - 17.4 x 27.2 cm
23. Study: pineapple, William Dexter. Signed lower right (black ink): ‘W. Dexter.’ Brown wash with Chinese white highlights - 18.5 x 23.8 cm
24. Still life study: fruit. Pencil and brown wash - 19.1 x 29.4 cm
25. Still life study: fruit. Pencil, watercolour and gouache - 11.8 x 24.2 cm
26a. Portrait study: young man- John Smedley (?), attributed to William Dexter. Pencil and brown wash - 11.8 x 8.8 cm
26b. Floral study: lilium. Pencil - 13.3 x 14.3 cm
27. Portrait study: young man with side whiskers, attributed to William Dexter. Pencil and brown wash - 21.5 x 16.7 cm
28. Study (copy?): travellers in field. Pencil and brown wash - 20 x 26.2 cm
29. The Gap, Watson’s Bay and South Head. Pencil and brown pastel -
19.5 x 28.7 cm
30. Study: pineapple (copy from f23). Pencil - 19.3 x 26.2 cm
31. Study: seashell. Signed lower right: ‘JS.’ Pencil - 13.9 x 19 cm
32a. Study: peach (?). Signed lower right: ‘J. Smedley.’ Pencil, watercolour and gouache - 9.2 x 15.1 cm
32b. Landscape study: coastal scene with sluice gate. Signed lower right: ‘JS.’ Pencil - 11.9 x 18.5 cm
33a. Study: barrel and tray. Brown ink with Chinese white -12.9 x 13.9 cm
33b. Still life study: bunch of grapes. Pencil - 10.9 x 16.4 cm
34. Laying of foundation stone, Sydney Railway Terminus, 1855,. Inscribed lower right: ‘Sydney Railway’, ‘JS.' Pencil - 18.1 x 28.6 cm
35. Study: Indian (?) woman with a raised arm). Pencil - 17.6 x 10.3 cm
36. Cover design for Punch, with various Australian motifs (architectural sketches on reverse). Pencil - 28 x 21.6 cm
37. Study: architectural interior (Masonic Hall?), attributed to William Dexter, extensively annotated with colour notes. Pencil - 25.5 x 34.4 cm
38. Wollongong from the Eastern Side. Signed lower left: ‘JS’; inscribed with title lower centre. Pencil - 26.3 x 39.6 cm
39. Study: birds (after William Dexter?). Brown ink tracing on tissue paper - 47.5 x 36 cm
40. Study: dead ducks (after William Dexter?). Pencil tracing on tissue paper - 52.5 x 41 cm
41. Architectural study: grave for an artist, gravestone decorated with palette and brushes and inscription: ‘Sacrum Momento [sic] Mori…’; superinscribed pencil: ‘Dexter.’ Ink and wash - 20.2 x 25.3 cm
42. Study (copy): Gothic ruin (Still life sketch on reverse). Signed and dated lower right: ‘J.S. 28/11/51.’ Pencil - 35.6 x 25.6 cm
43. Study (copy): Tudor ruin. Signed and dated lower right: ‘J.S 2/8/51.’ Pencil - 22.6 x 16.5 cm
44. Design for a banner, attributed to William Dexter. Inscribed in image on banderole; ‘BAND OF HOPE’; signed lower right in ink: ‘J.S.’; inscribed lower centre in ink over pencil: ‘Design of (?) Banner/John Smedley.' Iinscribed lower right in ink: ‘Bendigo/Banner.’ Pencil - 28 x 19 cm
45. Architectural study: church interior with pulpit. Pencil - 27.3 x 18.8 cm
46. Study: dead birds (copy after William Dexter?). Pencil - 27.2 x 37.8 cm
47. Study: woman with balustrade (tracing?). Ink on wax paper -
16.9 x 13.1 cm
48. blank
49. blank
50. Architectural drawing: elevation of a hall or villa in late Gothic/Tudor style. Inscribed lower centre: ‘ENTRANCE FRONT.’ Ink and watercolour -29.2 x 44.2 cm

Sketches by Jno: Smedley/of Bulli -- in ink p.1

Unless otherwise specified, works are by or attributed to John Smedley.
The album appears to have been used in part by Dexter as a teaching aide for Smedley.
References:
Library correspondence file

Spine is extensively damaged