P&O Co mail steamship BANGALORE entering Sydney Heads

Artist Frederick Garling (1806 - 1873)

Date1872 - 1873

Object number00015450

NamePainting

MediumWatercolour paint, paper

DimensionsOverall: 550 x 745 mm, 3 kg
Display Dimensions: 550 x 745 x 45 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Lady Desolie Hurley

Collections

Ship portraits

Terms

Sydney Heads

DescriptionThis watercolour painting of the P&O Co's Mail Steamship BANGALORE depicts the BANGALORE sailing through Sydney Heads. It was painted by reknowned marine artist Frederick Garland whose prodigous output covered most of the ships that came to Sydney during his lifetime as an artist.HistorySS BANGALORE was built in 1867 by William Denny of Dumbarton. Owned by P&O, SS BANGALORE operated from Bombay and Galle to Melbourne and Sydney from 1872 to 1886 as a passenger and mail ship. In 1891 BANGALORE was sold to Wilh. Wilhelmsen, Norway and renamed SS CORINGA. Garling was one of Sydney's most prolific marine artists and had been appointed as the official artist on Captain Stirling's expedition to the Swan River in Western Australia by Governor Darling. Some of Garling's sketches from the expedition reflect Stirling's conviction that the Swan River area was suitable for settlement. Garling worked for the Customs Office, but was also listed as a practising artist of Macquarie Street. He reputedly painted every ship that entered Sydney Harbour over a period of many years.SignificanceThe painting is a fine example of the maritime watercolours of eminent colonial artist Frederick Garling, and represents the many mixed cargo and passenger vessels servicing Sydney in the 1860s. Garling painted many of the ships that came to Sydney NSW during the mid 19th century. Most of his paintings were in watercolour and a large number were unsigned.