View of Norfolk Island

P3/286

fonds

approximately 1795

Graphic Materials, Watercolours

9675729

1 watercolour - 32 x 46 cm - watercolour, ink and graphite sketch

By descent from: Philip Gidley King Senior (1758-1808); Phillip Parker King (1791-1856); Philip Gidley King Junior (1817-1904); George Bartholomew Gidley King (1846-1910); George McArthur Gidley King (1870-1932); Allan Essington King (1878-1962); George Bartholomew Gidley King (1912-1990); Philip Bartholomew Gidley King (1945-1999); Rhonda Gidley King (widow of Philip Bartholomew Gidley King) (living 2016); Brian Douglas Abbott (great-great grandson Philip Gidley King Junior).

Watercolour drawing probably depicting the inland agricultural village of Queensboro on Norfolk Island, established by Philip Gidley King (1758-1808), during the First Settlement Era 1788-1814.

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

An illustration of the watercolour and a speculative description appears on page 34 of the book Gidley King family matters: the Gidley family 1506-1791, the King family 1557-1910 by Brian Abbott Douglas, 2021.

Two watermarks "J Whatman" identified on midline.

Graphite annotations visible at various points across work, possibly identifying geographical features; "far thing", "vanishing point", "house...", "hedge" and "bower" legible.

Ink text in bottom left corner is in position of artist signature.

Artist unknown, though it was originally attributed to Philip Gidley King Senior by his descendents. It may otherwise be work of draughtsman William Neate Chapman who lived on Norfolk Island between 1791 and 1800.

Source:
Library correspondence file

Design & Art Australia Online. "William Neate Chapman". Accessed October 4, 2023. https://www.daao.org.au/bio/william-neate-chapman/

Date range based on presence of "J Whatman" watermark.