The National Picture

The National Picture will shine a light on two enthralling yet under-examined figures in Australian history: colonial artist Benjamin Duterrau and the ‘Conciliator’ George Augustus Robinson. Drawing key loans from national and international collections, including five of the seven known ‘proclamation boards’, The National Picture will examine the work of colonial artists from the declaration of martial law in Van Diemen’s Land in 1828 and the beginnings of George Augustus Robinson’s ill-fated ‘Friendly Mission’ through to Duterrau’s death in 1851.

The exhibition and significant accompanying publication centre on the major Australian colonial artist Benjamin Duterrau and his depictions of Tasmanian Aboriginal people and the ‘Conciliator’, George Augustus Robinson. While its final section includes a small group of works referencing the issues raised in the exhibition dating from the 1920s to the present, the focus of the exhibition is the work of colonial artists from the declaration of martial law in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) in 1828 and the beginnings of Robinson’s ‘Friendly Mission’ through to Duterrau’s death in 1851. The final section of the exhibition includes a group of contemporary works referencing the issues raised in the exhibition dating from the 1920s to the present. This rich artistic output constitutes one of the most remarkable and contentious bodies of colonial art, of both Tasmanian and national significance.

The National Picture embodies the NGA’s ongoing commitment to using its impressive resources to contribute insightfully to Australia’s evolving national narrative.

Curators: Professor Tim Bonyhady, Cultural Historian and Environmental Lawyer at the Australian National University, and Dr Greg Lehman, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Aboriginal Leadership at the University of Tasmania.

Touring Dates and Venues

• Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, TAS
  17 August – 11 November 2018
• Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, TAS
  23 November – 17 February 2019