New find: it appears George French Angas trimmed the left edges of two paintings to remove S T Gill's signature for his 1846 London exhibition. Paintings considered to be Angas's best, evidence shows, are actually by Gill. In this new overview I examine Gill's work for and relationship with Angas, 1844 to 1852. Gill as ghost artist. Much praise bestowed on Angas has rightly belonged to #S_T_Gill. #colonialArt #historyAU #artHistoryAU #ozGLAM #catalogueRaisonne
My new article: https://coombe.id.au/S_T_Gill/S_T_Gill_artist_for_George_French_Angas.htm
I did say my #S_T_Gill project would "further rock the art history boat, not by intent, but because that's where the evidence takes us". So here's the extra rock ...
Big claims need big evidence. My new article adds to the pile, showing despite his claim to his London publisher, George French Angas likely didn't go to the Victorian diggings in 1852 at all.
Pivotal to this story is Charles Lord for whom Angas had great affection. A quick trip to Melbourne by the pair landed Angas in the middle of gold rush lithography.
NARRATIVE, ANALYSIS & CATALOGUE. (Not light reading. Analysis only made possible by digitised newspapers.) #historyAU #artHistoryAU #TroveAU #ozGLAM
My new article: https://coombe.id.au/S_T_Gill/George_French_Angas_Victorian_Diggings_1852.htm
The weight of evidence is against Angas' presence at the Victorian diggings. He visited Gill in Melbourne in August 1852 and again used Gill's pictures for his own publication. This further cements the role of Gill as a ghost artist for Angas.
Anachronisms are often the downfall for a fake painting.
This week I came across evidence that the object pictured in an "1845" painting was only made in 1854. #S_T_Gill #Adelaide #artHistoryAU
New paragraph for article: https://coombe.id.au/S_T_Gill/S_T_Gill_Scott_Fakes_and_Adelaide_Signatures.htm#1936SkipperSignboard
Several 'Gill' watercolours surfaced in the 1890s with connections to amateur artist Margaret Cochrane Scott nee Little and daughter journalist Winnifred 'Magpie' Scott. Two were fake. These and others had the uncommon 'STG Adelaide' signatures.
Analysis reveals two long-accepted colonial art works as clever fakes.
Several "Gill" watercolours surfaced in the 1890s with connections to amateur artist Margaret Scott and daughter journalist Winnifred "Magpie" Scott. Two were fake: Adelaide Racecourse and Dry Creek hunt.
#S_T_Gill #Adelaide #artHistoryAU #colonialArtAU
My new article: https://coombe.id.au/S_T_Gill/S_T_Gill_Scott_Fakes_and_Adelaide_Signatures.htm
Several 'Gill' watercolours surfaced in the 1890s with connections to amateur artist Margaret Cochrane Scott nee Little and daughter journalist Winnifred 'Magpie' Scott. Two were fake. These and others had the uncommon 'STG Adelaide' signatures.
H. C. Jervis made engravings in #Adelaide of landmark buildings in 1841-1842. Queen's Theatre (modified) still stands today.
Initials "C.W.C" on the prints became a 50 year art history red herring. They're likely based on originals by #S_T_Gill. There are links too with the 1842 Kingston map. #artHistoryAU
View in new catalogue page: https://coombe.id.au/S_T_Gill/H_C_Jervis_Engravings_1841_1842.htm
#S_T_Gill only occasionally portrayed drunks, and this may be the earliest extant such picture: the Annual Agricultural Show in 1846. Five hotel booth signs are in the scene including the Wheatsheaf #Adelaide!
#AGSAAdelaide recently made their digitised image available in the public catalogue, so now I also can display it. #artHistoryAU @arthistory
View: https://coombe.id.au/S_T_Gill/S_T_Gill_1845_1846.htm#243
And now my modern project returns to the quote that's stuck in my head for the last 9 years. With a new article! #historyAU #artHistoryAU #colonialArtAU #S_T_Gill #Barossa #SouthAustralia #Angas
S.T. Gill at Angas' Barossa 1844
S. T. Gill was in the #Barossa sketching for the Angas family from 29 October to 4 November 1844. I identify some works as well as influences on Angas publications: "South Australia Illustrated" and "Barossa Range and its neighbourhood".
New article: https://coombe.id.au/S_T_Gill/S_T_Gill_at_Angas'_Barossa_1844.htm 3/3
“Out with Mr. Gill the artist who has come from town to take some sketches...”
This was the hook for my project - the hurdle that the "Convict Gill" theory couldn't jump. A historical controversy in the newspapers 9 years ago! #historyAU #artHistoryAU #colonialArtAU #S_T_Gill
From my naive self 9 years ago: https://coombe.id.au/stg/01_controversy.htm 2/3
A historical controversy grabbed my attention 9 years ago. #historyAU #artHistoryAU #colonialArtAU #S_T_Gill
May be free or paywall: https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/academic-claims-artist-st-gill-was-a-convict-20160704-gpy9ko.html
At first I was attracted to the convict Gill theory. But soon found a hurdle in the said timeline... 1/3
David Coombe
