DOI issue:
No. 198 (September, 1908)
DOI article:West, W. K.: An artist from Australia: Mr. Arthur Streeton
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20967#0299
Arthur Street on
tinguished by a brilliant directness of statement
which proves clearly how sure he was of himself
even at that early stage, and how well his instincts
served him in his choice of methods of expression.
These qualities in his art were promptly recognised
when he began to show his paintings in European
galleries. Art lovers will remember the excellent
impression made by the canvases he contributed
to the exhibition of Australian art which was
held some years ago at the Grafton Galleries.
His first Academy picture, too—Golden Summer,
which was at Burlington House in 1891—-was
awarded an honourable
mention at the Paris Salon
in 1892, and was bought
by a well-known collector,
Mr. Charles Mitchell, of
Jesmond Towers.
It was not until 1897
that Mr. Streeton decided
to leave his home in
Australia and to establish
himself in London. For
five or six years previously
he had been working in
New South Wales and
had got together a con-
siderable collection of
pictures which he ex-
hibited at Melbourne
before his departure. On
his way to Europe he
visited Cairo, proposing to spend a week there, but
Egypt so fascinated him that he remained for five
months painting assiduously and turning to full
account the artistic opportunities which were so
amply available in these new surroundings. He
added further to his experiences by spending
a month at Naples; and when at last he arrived
in London he had considerably widened his out-
look and had begun very definitely that evolution
in his practice which has produced such remark-
able results during the last ten years.
The effect upon his art of this move from
tinguished by a brilliant directness of statement
which proves clearly how sure he was of himself
even at that early stage, and how well his instincts
served him in his choice of methods of expression.
These qualities in his art were promptly recognised
when he began to show his paintings in European
galleries. Art lovers will remember the excellent
impression made by the canvases he contributed
to the exhibition of Australian art which was
held some years ago at the Grafton Galleries.
His first Academy picture, too—Golden Summer,
which was at Burlington House in 1891—-was
awarded an honourable
mention at the Paris Salon
in 1892, and was bought
by a well-known collector,
Mr. Charles Mitchell, of
Jesmond Towers.
It was not until 1897
that Mr. Streeton decided
to leave his home in
Australia and to establish
himself in London. For
five or six years previously
he had been working in
New South Wales and
had got together a con-
siderable collection of
pictures which he ex-
hibited at Melbourne
before his departure. On
his way to Europe he
visited Cairo, proposing to spend a week there, but
Egypt so fascinated him that he remained for five
months painting assiduously and turning to full
account the artistic opportunities which were so
amply available in these new surroundings. He
added further to his experiences by spending
a month at Naples; and when at last he arrived
in London he had considerably widened his out-
look and had begun very definitely that evolution
in his practice which has produced such remark-
able results during the last ten years.
The effect upon his art of this move from