In 1772, Joseph Banks commissioned the foremost painter of animals in England, George Stubbs, to paint a dingo and a kangaroo. To our modern eyes, the paintings lack the vitality and strength of the animals we are familiar with in Australia. The kangaroo more closely resembles a rodent than a bipedal marsupial; the dingo’s glassy-eyed stare lacks any animation.
— Read more: It’s Australia vs England in battle over Stubbs masterpieces Stubbs was renowned for how well he painted horses and dogs. Even today, his paintings capture the lifelike individual essence of his subject. So why did his paintings of the dingo and kangaroo — some of the earliest European representations of Australian animals — look so strange? ‘To compare it… would be impossible’ Stubbs had not travelled with the 1768 Endeavour expedition to the South Seas.
The animals became the two most associated with Australia — adding greatly to Great Britain’s sense of national pride as the conqueror of new worlds. Read more: Terra nullius interruptus: Captain James Cook and absent presence in First Nations art Stubbs’ kangaroo painting set the standard for future representations of the animal until well into the 19th century, serving as a model for engravings and illustrations used in scientific and popular publications.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sagstrom and rookie Dryburgh among captain's picks for European team in Solheim CupEuropean team captain Suzann Pettersen has completed her Solheim Cup squad with Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom and Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh.
Read more »
European S&P Global Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)Get the S&P Global Composite PMI results in real time as they're announced and see the immediate global market impact.
Read more »
European stock futures higher; PMI data, Nvidia results in focus By Investing.comEuropean stock futures higher; PMI data, Nvidia results in focus
Read more »
European shares open higher led by miners, healthcare By ReutersEuropean shares open higher led by miners, healthcare
Read more »
European Union Economic ForecastsGet the EU Economic Forecasts results in real time as they're announced and see the immediate global market impact.
Read more »
European stocks higher; PMIs mixed, Nvidia earnings due later By Investing.comEuropean stocks higher; PMIs mixed, Nvidia earnings due later
Read more »