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''A break away!'' is an
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. 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."
Roberts painted the work at Corowa. The painting depicts a time of
''A break away!''
– Art Gallery of South Australia Paintings by Tom Roberts 1891 paintings Horses in art Riverina Sheep in art Collections of the Art Gallery of South Australia {{19C-painting-stub
1891
Events
January–March
* January 1
** Paying of old age pensions begins in Germany.
** A strike of 500 Hungarian steel workers occurs; 3,000 men are out of work as a consequence.
**Germany takes formal possession of its new Africa ...
painting by Australian artist Tom Roberts
Thomas William Roberts (8 March 185614 September 1931) was an English-born Australian artist and a key member of the Heidelberg School art movement, also known as Australian impressionism.
After studying in Melbourne, he travelled to Europe i ...
.
Description
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. 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."
Roberts painted the work at Corowa. The painting depicts a time of drought
A drought is defined as drier than normal conditions.Douville, H., K. Raghavan, J. Renwick, R.P. Allan, P.A. Arias, M. Barlow, R. Cerezo-Mota, A. Cherchi, T.Y. Gan, J. Gergis, D. Jiang, A. Khan, W. Pokam Mba, D. Rosenfeld, J. Tierney, an ...
, with little grass and the soil kicked up as dust. The work itself is a reflection on the pioneering days of the pastoral industry, which were coming to an end by the 1890s. Arthur Streeton
Sir Arthur Ernest Streeton (8 April 1867 – 1 September 1943) was an Australian landscape painter and a leading member of the Heidelberg School, also known as Australian Impressionism.
Early life
Streeton was born in Mt Moriac, Victoria, sou ...
recalled years later: "To paint that masterpiece 'A break away!'' Roberts travelled for six weeks with the drovers."
Exhibition history and provenance
The painting formed part of the 1898Exhibition of Australian Art in London
The Exhibition of Australian Art in London was a show organised by the trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW), notably Julian Ashton, and financially supported by the philanthropist Eadith Walker. Held at London's Grafton Galleri ...
, the first major exhibition of Australian art internationally.
''A break away!'' is now part of the collection of the Art Gallery of South Australia
The Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA), established as the National Gallery of South Australia in 1881, is located in Adelaide. It is the most significant visual arts museum in the Australian state of South Australia. It has a collection of ...
having been purchased in 1899. It was included in Quintessence Editions Ltd.'s 2007 book ''1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die''. Farthing, Stephen; Sanderson, Terry (2007). ''1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die''. London: Quintessence Editions Ltd. p. 513. .
References
External links
''A break away!''
– Art Gallery of South Australia Paintings by Tom Roberts 1891 paintings Horses in art Riverina Sheep in art Collections of the Art Gallery of South Australia {{19C-painting-stub