A Fern Tree Valley c1874, after Skinner Prout watercolour.

by Prout, John Skinner

Antique print of lovelyTree Ferns in a gorge with creek running through it. Engraving c1874.

Original steel engraving by Thomas Heawood (fl.1850-1879), from a watercolour by John Skinner Prout (1806-1876) for Edwin Carton Booth's Australia, illustrated with engravings from drawings by eminent English topographical artists, Skinner Prout, Nicholas Chevalier, James Charles (J.C.) Armytage and others" published in England circa 1874 by Virtue & Company.

Skinner Prout was a principal artist for Australia Illustrated. The engravings were made from mirror images of Skinner Prout's drawings. Skinner Prout was born on 19 December 1805 at Plymouth in England. On 14 December 1840 he 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. Skinner Prout went on many sketching trips throughout New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria, often accompanying sketching clubs that he helped to organize. Prout and his family returned to England in April 1848.

This is not a good scan of the finely engraved horizontal lines in the sky. This engraving is in good condition, with fine later hand-colour.There are wide margins, as published. Page size is 270 x 210mm. (approx 8 1/2 x 10 5/8 inches). Image: 180 x 130mm (7 x 5 1/8 inches).