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This is an index to narrative articles on S.T. Gill's life and work from his arrival in South Australia in 1839 up to his early time at the Victorian gold rush in 1852-53.
Narrative articles are listed in approximate chronological order with links to the web page. Many of the pages also have forward and backward narrative links.
STATUS : UNDER DEVELOPMENT
1844~. Set of 8 wash drawings of South Australian scenes - natural, Aboriginal, rural and the built environment, based on subjects in J.F. Bennett's book. Plus other related works.
Lieutenant John Napier Magill (1819-1848), 96th Regiment, posted to South Australia 1842-1846. Magill was a flautist and artist, painting views of Flinders Street barracks. Gill watercolours for Magill and Captain W.D. Chard.
S. T. Gill was in the Barossa sketching for the Angas family from 29 October to 4 November 1844. I identify some works as well as influences on Angas publications "South Australia Illustrated" and "Barossa Range and its neighbourhood".
Gill portrayed the Aboriginal elevated mortuary platform in his 'Native Sepulchre' images. Also included are works by E.C. Frome, G.F. Angas and W.A. Cawthorne. Date range: 1840 to 1870s.
January - June 1845. F.R. Nixon - a somewhat mischievous artist - etched and printed 12 Views of Adelaide in 1845, priced 21 shillings. A few months later, when controversy erupted, James Allen said they weren't worth 3 farthings!
WA Cawthorne (1824-1897): school teacher, amateur artist, documenter of Aboriginal culture. George French Angas' "South Australia Illustrated". The relationship with Gill, his art master from February 1845.
1844-45. George French Angas made a splash in South Australia in two visits (interrupted by a trip to New Zealand). He left on 2 July 1845, a fortnight after his art exhibition and its associated controversy.
September-November 1845. Series of watercolours and wash drawings commissioned by James Allen for his 1846 promotional lecture tour of England.
After the commission for James Allen and South Australian Company, in November 1845 Gill briefly trialled Daguerreotype (photography). Little is known about what he did next, up until the time he left on Horrocks' expedition in July 1846.
In July 1846 Gill gave a supper for friends before leaving on John Horrocks' expedition, this being the subject of an oddly lengthy newspaper report. Featuring Australia's first camel, a dubious newspaper reporter and unidentified expeditioners.
S.T. Gill accompanied John Ainsworth Horrocks' small expedition from July to September 1846. This article focusses on Gill's artistic work on the expedition, rather than his exhibition works after returning.
September 1846 to January 1847. Gill develops his series of 33 works of the Horrocks' expedition, raffled and shown at the February 1847 Exhibition of Pictures.
An overarching outline of 1847 with links to catalogue articles on Gill's major efforts that year. This article also includes 1847 works not catalogued elsewhere.
'An Exhibition of Pictures, principally the work of Colonial Artists' ran over a week from Thursday 11 February 1847 and showed 178 pictures. Gill was the most prolific exhibitor with 62 entries, including his 33 work Horrocks series.
1846/February 1847. Five vignettes showing activities of Aboriginal people. For George Hamilton who over-painted two of the pictures. Extensive reverse notes transcribed.
February-April 1847. To illustrate Charles Sturt's book 'Narrative of an Expedition into Central Australia ...'. Watercolours (known and unknown) by Gill.
In April 1847 S.T. Gill sketched the Burra Burra Mine and its township Kooringa on behalf of the South Australian Mining Association (SAMA). He made a set of seven views. Several SAMA proprietors ordered copy sets.
Winter 1847. 'The Seasons and The Months'. A series originally of 16 pictures commissioned by Lieutenant John Roe. 'July' is missing. Key to redating Gill's work.
1848. Second exhibition of artists. Economic depression in Britain impacted Gill's moneyed clients. But year end heralded a broader market for Gill's works with the arrival in Adelaide of lithographers Penman and Co.
December 1848 - August 1849. Lithographers Penman & Co.; J.A. Gilfillan; T. Rider; Gill's 'Heads of the People' in May, July, August 1849.
September 1849 - February 1850. Fetes and house paintings. Gill embraced lithography and its larger market, whilst continuing watercolours for clients.
In February 1850 S.T. Gill returned to the Burra Burra Mine and its township Kooringa to refresh images for the South Australian Mining Association (SAMA). Featured: Patent Copper Company's smelting works and Roach's engine-house.
March 1850 to March 1851. Changing fortunes. Prospect House; Gill's Newfoundland dog; competition from oil painters; portraits from Daguerreotypes; Gill's hand injury; financial pressure; William Vansittart's horse portraits.
March 1851. The story behind S.T. Gill's cheeky lithograph of the Old Colonists' Festival Dinner.
Gold became the topic of interest in May 1851. Gill insolvent. Series of 3 lithographs of Adelaide's main streets, suggest the view was to the east and gold. Horse portraits. Angas paints NSW diggings.
David Coombe, 2024. Original 3 April 2024. Updated 27 July 2025. | text copyright (except where indicated)
CITE THIS: David Coombe, 2024-2025, S.T. Gill - A Narrative, accessed dd mmm yyyy, <https://coombe.id.au/S_T_Gill/narrative.htm>