A break away!

A break away! is an 1891 painting by Australian artist Tom Roberts.

A break away!
ArtistTom Roberts
Year1891
Mediumoil on canvas
Dimensions137.3 cm × 167.8 cm (54.1 in × 66.1 in)
LocationArt Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide

Description
Roberts' 1891 painting of Collendina Station, Corowa, where he began work on A break away!

The painting depicts a mob of thirsty sheep stampeding towards a dam. A drover on horseback is attempting to turn the mob before they drown or crush each other in their desire to drink.[1] The painting, an "icon of Australian art", is part of a series of works by Roberts that "captures what was an emerging spirit of national identity."[1]

Roberts painted the work at Corowa.[2] The painting depicts a time of drought, with little grass and the soil kicked up as dust.[1] The work itself is a reflection on the pioneering days of the pastoral industry, which were coming to an end by the 1890s.[1] Arthur Streeton recalled years later: "To paint that masterpiece [A break away!], Roberts travelled for six weeks with the drovers."[3]

Exhibition history and provenance

The painting formed part of the 1898 Exhibition of Australian Art in London, the first major exhibition of Australian art internationally.

A break away! is now part of the collection of the Art Gallery of South Australia having been purchased in 1899.[4] It was included in Quintessence Editions Ltd.'s 2007 book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die.[5]

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References
  1. "'A break away!' by Tom Roberts". The Le@rning Federation. Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  2. Smith, Abigail. "Roberts' The Breakaway". Tom Roberts' Australia. Archived from the original on 18 July 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  3. McCulloch, Alan (1969). The Golden Age of Australian Painting: Impressionism and the Heidelberg School. Lansdowne, p. 58.
  4. "A break away!". Collections. Art Gallery of South Australia. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  5. Farthing, Stephen; Sanderson, Terry (2007). 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die. London: Quintessence Editions Ltd. p. 513. ISBN 0-7893-1524-6.


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