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Lot #86 - After Nicolas-Martin Petit (French, 1777-1804) + After Charles Alexandre Lesueur (French, 1778-1846)

  • Auction House:
    Theodore Bruce
  • Sale Name:
    Aboriginal & Oceanic Art & Artefacts
  • Sale Date:
    11 Feb 2018 ~ 2.30pm
  • Lot #:
    86
  • Lot Description:
    After Nicolas-Martin Petit (French, 1777-1804) + After Charles Alexandre Lesueur (French, 1778-1846)
    Arra Maida femme de la Terre de Diemen (Bruny Island) et Gnoung-a-gnoung-a-Mour-re-Mour-ga, Nouvelle Hollande, Chef-de-Sauvage (Port Jackson)
    Pen, ink & pencil, tracing paper laid on paper support
    35 x 25.5 cm
    + Sketches depicting Two Spears, Two Waddies, a Woven Basket, a Kelp Container & a Shell Necklace from lutruwita/Tasmania (c. Early 1800s). Sketches such as this were used as part of the production process & copies were made on board ship, therefore there are several copies extant. The necklace is one of the most culturally significant and closely guarded traditions of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community & is illustrated in the official publication of the expedition by Francois Peron, Voyage de decouvertes au terres australes, 1807
  • Provenance:
    Private Collection, France
  • Exhibited:
    This sketch was exhibited in the Tasmanian Museum and Art Galley's 2017 exhibition, The Art of Science: Baudin's Voyages 1800-1804, April-July 2017. Engraving held in the NGV Collection
  • References:
    Peron, Francois. Voyage de decourvertes aux Terres Australes, execute par ordre de sa Majeste, l'Empereur et Roi, sur les corvettes le Geographe, le Naturaliste et las goelette le Casuarina, pendant les annees 1800,1801,1802,1804 et 1804, Atlas, L'imprimerie Imperiale, Paris, 1807-1817, Gnoung-a gnoung: Pl. XX, Arra Maida Pl.XII, Spears etc Pl. XXII, Shell Necklace & Baskets Pl. XIII, engraver, Barthemely Roger (1767-1841) French
  • Notes:
    Petit signed on to Nicloas Baudin's Voyage of exploration & discovery as a gunners mate along with Charles-Alexandre Lesueur ,both were appointed as artists, after the 3 appointed artists left the expedition in Mauritius. Petit was more concerned with sketching landscapes & their inhabitants, Lesueur animals & other zoological specimens, particularly aquatic specimens. Arra Maida of Bruny Island was sketch by Petit on 31 January 1802, wearing an animal skin garment over her shoulder & carrying an infant on her back. Peron referred to her in the 1807 Voyage de decourvertes ...1807 page 256 "I find, if I am not mistaken, the character of assurance & pride which eminently distiguished this woman, from all her companions. When I met her last time she was carrying a small child on her back." Gnoung-a-Gnoung was painted by Petit on or around 20 June & 17 November 1802 in Port Jackson. The necklace, as illustrated, is one of the most culturally significant & closely guarded traditions of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.
  • Estimate:
    A$20,000 - 30,000
  • Realised Price:
    *****

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  • Category:
    Art

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.



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