Mount Wellington, Tasmania. Skinner Prout scene. Engraving c1874.

by Prout, John Skinner

Early scene of Hobart Mt Wellington with snow, houses and Derwent River. Tasmania c1874.

Beautiful steel engraving by Edward Paxman Brandard (1819-1898), after a drawing by prominent English landscape artist and engraver John Skinner Prout (1805-1876) for Edwin Carton Booth’s Australia Illustrated published in London circa 1874 by Virtue and Company. This series of views are lovely records of places that have changed considerably with expanse of population and building development over the years.

Skinner Prout was born in Plymouth, England, and in 1840, arrived in Sydney with his wife and seven children. He brought a complete lithographic printing press with him, and in early 1841 he started producing lithographed versions of his drawings of Sydney. In January 1844 Prout moved to Hobart and commenced drawing Hobart and its environs for a series of lithographs. He went on many sketching trips throughout New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania, often accompanying sketching clubs that he helped to organize. Prout and his family returned to England in April 1848.

This engraving is in good condition with fine later hand-colour. It has wide margins as published. Page size is 215 x 270mm (8 1/2 x 10 5/8 inches). Engraving size is 125 x 180mm (approximately 5 x 7 inches).