S.T. Gill and Horrocks Retrospectives

Contents

In this article ...

• Introduction
• Bishop | 1849
• Horrocks Sepias | Melbourne, February 1853
• Arthur Horrocks | 1867
• Analysis
• Works
• References
• Notes
• List of Works

Introduction

John Ainsworth Horrocks (1818 - 1846) led a small expedition in 1846 intending to push European exploration to the northwest of the head of Spencer's Gulf. S.T. Gill was one of the expeditioners, as accompanying artist. His main expedition works are documented in Horrocks Expedition Pictures 1846-1847.

Gill would later revisit the Horrocks expedition in his art, some works were of an historic nature and others were more generic Flinders Ranges pictures.

This article lists a selection of these.

Bishop | 1849

A set of ten wash drawings of South Australian scenes – natural, Aboriginal, rural and exploration – includes five Horrocks expedition scenes. This set was likely for Captain John Bishop of Port Lincoln in 1849. Gill sketched these in his South Australian period, so they are included in the catalogue:

S.T. Gill's Set of South Australian Scenes - Bishop 1849.

Horrocks Sepias | Melbourne, February 1853

After Gill had completed his Victoria diggings lithographs of 1852, new watercolours of his were noticed in the press – and they were mostly South Australia retrospectives.

Water Color Drawings by Mr. S.T. Gill.–We have been much pleased by a sight of some very well executed drawings by Mr. Gill. Most of them refer to South Australian scenery, and are the result of sketches taken by the Artist when accompanying the ill-fated Horrocks on his North-western expedition from Mount Arden, in 1846. Among the sepia are some which must meet with high approval from all who can appreciate their merit as works of art, and as truthful delineations of bush life and scenery ...^53-1

See also S.T. Gill - South Australia Retrospectives for some works derived by Gill from the Horrocks expedition.

Arthur Horrocks | 1867

In 1944 the South Australian gallery, referencing the Horrocks expedition, bought "seven watercolor drawings" by Gill from "Arthur Horrocks, of Gilberton, a great-nephew of J. A. Horrocks".^AH1 These seem to correspond to AGSA 0.1251 to 0.1257.^AH2

Furthermore, these scenes correspond with watercolours on exhibition at the Adelaide Photographic Company in 1867.

There are now a number of sketches at the establishment of the Photographic Company that must be full of interest to old colonists. They are colored drawings, taken on the spot by Mr. Gill, of scenes in the exploration of the late Mr. John Horrocks to the westward in 1846. In one of the series there is represented an interview with some natives previous to an attack by the savages, while another shows the conflict itself. There are various camp-fire scenes, with the horses and camels in the background, the whole very natural and lifelike, and a representation of the party returning after the leader had, through the awkwardness of the camel, received the gunshot wound which terminated fatally. The best sketch of all is perhaps that of the look-out from a point of the range to the westward of Mount Arden. The artist has throughout succeeded in giving an admirable idea of bush life and Australian scenery, and in bringing vividly to the memory of those who knew him, the lofty stature, powerful frame, and majestic bearing of one who still lives in the memory of South Australians of the early days.^AH3

Arthur's other great-uncle was also named Arthur and he was present at the death of his brother J A Horrocks.

The elder Arthur Horrocks had helped J E T Woods with his 1865 history of Australian exploration by giving him access to J A Horrocks's journal. Woods noted:

This journal has never been published before; and amid the brilliant exploits of other explorers the efforts of this brave young man have been quite forgotten. I am glad to be the first to rescue them in some degree from oblivion, and trust that I shall in some measure repay Mr. Arthur Horrocks for letting me have the use of his late brother's MS. The original journal is the merest outline of each day's proceedings, of course intended to be filled up and revised subsequently. The sense, however, is generally pretty clear and proves Horrocks to have been a keen and accurate observer.^AH4

Arthur Horrocks was insolvent in 1864 and 1867 and it was likely around this time that Gill painted these retrospectives for him. Gill misdates the expedition to 1844 in inscriptions on two of the six retrospectives. The seventh picture bought by the gallery from the later Arthur – AGSA 0.1253 – is not late and probably dates soon after the expedition.

Works

To see these works, with accompanying notes, just scroll down or jump to the List of Works.

References

Appleyard

Bowden

Woods, Julian E. Tenison. 1865. A History of the Discovery and Exploration of Australia : Or, an Account of the Progress of Geographical Discovery in that Continent from the earliest period to the present day. Online at <https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/74VvGDLGLA43/POWVXQRjWWXKX>

RGSA:SA 1906. John Ainsworth Horrocks' Journal Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia : South Australian Branch. v.8, 1906: 36-47.

Notes

• 53-1. The Argus, 4 February 1853: 5. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4789489>
• AH1. News, 16 March 1944: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128395623>
• AH2. Appleyard describes AGSA 0.1251 as "one of a group of six watercolours relating to the expedition acquired from Arthur Horrocks, a great-nephew of J. A. Horrocks". (Appleyard, 91) The others are grouped by extrapolation.
• AH3. The South Australian Advertiser, 27 September 1867: 2. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28801192>
• AH4. Woods, Vol 2, p. 38.