Conrad Martens
Toorak, 1860
This tranquil watercolour depicts the elegant Italianate mansion Toorak, named from the Eastern Kulin word turruk, for reeds. Built between 1848 and 1851, Toorak was Victoria’s Government House from 1854 to 1874. Unusually this Melbourne building was painted by the accomplished Sydney-based artist Conrad Martens. Although widely travelled, Martens never came to Victoria, writing that the colony of ‘Port Phillip is not sufficiently picturesque’. Nevertheless he painted two Melbourne scenes, of the houses Toorak and Jolimont. These were commissioned by Edward (later Sir Edward) Macarthur, the eldest son of John and Elizabeth Macarthur, early graziers in New South Wales, who were dedicated patrons of Martens. Macarthur served as commander-in-chief of Australia’s military forces and as acting Governor during the 1850s, during which time he lived in both houses. Upon his retirement, he commissioned these watercolours as mementoes, with Martens provided with sketches or photographs as his source material.
- Artist / Maker
- Conrad Martens (1801—1878)
- Creation Date
- 1860
- Place created
- Australia - Melbourne
- Collection
- Russell and Mab Grimwade Bequest
- Subjects
- Art and Design - Paintings
- Materials used
- watercolour and tempera on paper
- Dimensions
(H x W x D) - sight 44.4 x 64.6 cm sheet 45.2 x 65.5 cm frame 61 x 81.3 cm
- Credit line
- The University of Melbourne Art Collection. The Russell and Mab Grimwade Bequests, 1973
- Accession number
- 1973.0003.000.000
- Copyright
- Public domain. For image enquiries contact the Museums and Collections Department, Potter Museum of Art. Request Access
