Soldiers Point, Darling Harbour, 3 September 1835

Maker Conrad Martens (English, 1801 - 1878)

Date1835

Object number00000384

NamePainting

MediumWatercolour

DimensionsOverall: 440 x 590 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionA watercolour by Conrad Martens titled 'Soldiers Point, Darling Harbour, Sept. 3. 1835'.HistoryWhen Martens settled in Sydney in 1835 he was immediately attracted to its scenic harbour foreshores, a love that never waned. He also painted numerous dwellings and properties throughout his travels into New South Wales providing a unique record of the changing landscape. At the time Martens painted this scene of Darling Harbour, renamed in 1826 in honour of Governor Ralph Darling—Sydney's Governor at the time, it was the setting of much of the harbours working and industrial side. There were metal factories, abattoirs, manufacturing warehouses and by the 1830's when Martens arrived it was a major port for the loading of timber and coal. Over the next 100 years Darling Harbour would change dramatically from the image pained by Martens and become a booming industrial site fed by the railways and shipping.SignificanceConrad Martens became a popular landscape painter during the early 19th century in Sydney. After serving as official painter on the BEAGLE expedition with Charles Darwin, Martens settled in Sydney and painted numerous scenes of the harbour, growing city and surrounds. He has since become known as the "father of colonial art in Australia".