Augustus Earle

The body of work he produced during his travels comprises a significant documentary record of the effects of European contact and colonisation during the early nineteenth century.

Continuing his voyage in February 1820, Earle sailed for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, visiting Chile in June and was resident in Lima, Peru from July to December.

On 17 February 1824, he left Rio de Janeiro aboard the ageing ship Duke of Gloucester bound for the Cape of Good Hope, and onwards to Calcutta.

During the ship's stay in the island's waters, Earle went ashore with his dog and a crew member, Thomas Gooch, attracted by the idea that 'this was a spot hitherto unvisited by any artist'.

[2] He remained in Hobart briefly, and only a small number of works survive from this period, his portraits of Captain Richard Brooks and of his wife (1827_1827)hang in the National Gallery of Victoria, including June Park, Van Dieman's (sic) Land, perfect park scenery, and Cape Barathas, (i.e. Barathus) Adventure Bay, Van Dieman's (i.e. Diemen's) Land.

Throughout this time, Earle also continued to produce a number of watercolours which mainly fall into three categories: landscapes, Aboriginal subjects, and a series of views of public and private buildings that record the development of the colony.

[2] One of his most famous works is a lithographic print entitled Portrait of Bungaree, a native of New South Wales, with Fort Macquarie, Sydney Harbour, in background.

While Earle was preceded by artists on James Cook's voyages in the Pacific, including Sydney Parkinson, William Hodges and John Webber, he was the first to take up residence.

A large number of watercolours and drawings from Earle's New Zealand sojourn remain, covering subjects such as romantic landscapes, Māori culture and daily village life, the effects of warfare, portrait studies.

Although the city of Madras provided a good market for his art Earle's health declined there and he travelled to Pondicherry, embarking in the Julie, which was condemned at Mauritius.

He became friends with Charles Darwin, and in April and May 1832 they stayed in a cottage at Botafogo near Rio de Janeiro, but problems with his health forced him to leave the ship at Montevideo in August and return to England.