Walter Follen Bishop paintings of Sydney Harbour Bridge with photographic print

ML 1626
PXX 115

fonds

1929

Graphic Materials, Paintings, Photographs

9673313

2 paintings - 52 x 86 cm and smaller - oil and pencil on canvas, oil on wood panel
1 photographic print - 12 x 20 cm

Walter Follen Bishop was born in Liverpool, England, in 1856 and studied at the Liverpool South District School of Art. In 1889, he married fellow artist Florence Fitzgerald. They lived in South Australia from around 1913, but travelled extensively, returning to Australia in 1925 and 1929. Walter died in 1936.

Source:
Campbell, Jean. Australian Watercolour Painters: 1780 to the Present Day, 287. Craftsman House, Sydney, 1989.

Auctioned by Dreweatts as Lots 175 and 176, Old Master, British and European Art on 26 May 2022 in Newbury, England, from the familial collection of John Anster Fitzgerald, father of Walter's wife, Florence Fitzgerald.

The Building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Night, 1929 / W. Follen Bishop (ML 1626)
Oil on wood panel, captures construction of the bridge nearing nightfall, from the same vantage point at Milsons Point but looking towards Circular Quay.


The Building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Day (PXX 115)
Oil and pencil and canvas, captures construction of the bridge during the day, from a vantage point at Milsons Point looking towards Walsh Bay. Photographic print captures a painting of the same aspect.

Access via appointment - Applies to ML 1626

Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Title "The Building of Sydney Harbour Bridge" taken from auction / vendor information.

Oil on wood panel painting bears two labels on verso: "Anthony Hordern & Sons Ltd. Art Gallery Sydney N.S.W, Pictures - Antiques - Curios" and "James Bourlet & Sons, Ltd., Fine Art Packers, Frame Makers, B17410 [illegible address]". Painting is signed and dated by artist in lower right corner, "W. Follen Bishop, 1929".

Photographic print shows artist's signature and date on recto: "W. Follen Bishop / 29" and bears photographer's stamp on verso: "Henry Dixon & Son Ltd. Incorporating William E. Gray. Negative No. 88021 ; Order No. 7437 ; Fine Art, Commercial & Technical Photographers, 112 Albany St. N.W.1."

Photographic print captures the oil on canvas painting at a later stage, showing further added detail, suggesting the original painting may have been a preparatory work and a second canvas was completed for the exhibition in which it was displayed by Anthony Hordern & Sons.

Date for oil on canvas painting approximated to 1929 based on stage of completion of concrete piers and first stage of approach spans on either side.