Description
George French Angas’s view of the interior of the principal crater of Mount Gambier from the largest and earliest series of lithographs of the infant colony of South Australia.
Angas had accompanied South Australian Governor, Sir George Grey in 1844 in an expedition to explore the south east of the state. The party continued inland from the coast and climbed Mount Schank and Mount Gambier, extinct volcanoes which dominate the landscape. They also discovered and named Mount Burr. They had left some of the expedition at Rivoli Bay to survey the area. Angas’s illustration of Mount Gambier shows what is now known as the Blue Lake, because of the way in which it changes to a bright blue between November and April, before reverting to a duller colour for the remaining months of the year.
Angas’s description; the accompanying illustration presents the interior of the principal crater, sketched in May, 1844. It is thus described in my journal at the moment. “After toiling up the upward slopes of the mountain, at the most accessible place we could find, the sudden view of the interior of the largest crater burst upon us, and called forth our rapturous admiration. It was indeed a glorious and enchanting scene; a vast hollow basin, shut out from the world as it were, by the walls of lava that surround it, and covered with emerald verdure. …We bivouacked for the night within the crater, our fires glimmering like stars along the edge of the lake.
From George French Angas’s, South Australia Illustrated. London.
References:
Gill, T. Bibliography of South Australia. Adelaide. (1886) 1976 : p.16.
Wantrup, J. Australian Rare Books. Sydney 1987 : P.309-316..
Ferguson, J. A. Bibliography of Australia Volumes 1-8, Canberra 1976 : 4457, Volume IV.
Tregenza, J. George French Angas. Artist, Traveller and Naturalist 1822-1886. Adelaide 1980 : ill. front cover +.
Abbey, J.R. Travel in Aquatint and Lithography 1770-1860. London 1972: II, 577.
Tooley, R.V. English books with coloured plates, 1790 to 1860. Folkstone 1973 : 62.
Colas, R. Bibliographie generale du Costume et de la Mode. Paris 1933 : 133.
Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 1842283
State Library South Australia: 994.2T A581 d
National Gallery Australia: ACCESSION NUMBER 66.7.3.4
Royal Collection Trust UK: RCIN 1070959
University Library Melbourne: 919.42302 ANGA
National Gallery Victoria: Accession Number2011.338
State Library Victoria: RARELTEF 919.42 AN4S
