Page 116 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

114  SY DNEY

6 Art Gallery of New South Wales

Established in 1871, the art gallery has occupied its present imposing
building since 1897. Designed by the Colonial Architect W L Vernon, the
gallery doubled in size following building extensions in 1988. Two equestrian
bronzes by Gilbert Bayes (1872–1953) – The Offerings of Peace and The
Offerings of War – greet the visitor on entry. The gallery itself houses some of fferings of War – greet the visitor on entry. The gallery itself houses some of fferings of War
O O
the finest works of art in Australia, with permanent collections of Australian,
Aboriginal, European, Asian and Contemporary art. The Yiribana Gallery is
among the largest in the world to exclusively exhibit Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander art and culture. Free guided tours take place daily, covering
Aboriginal art, highlights of the collection or major exhibitions.
Lower Level 3
Mars and the Vestal Virgin (1638)
This oil on canvas by Parisian painter
Jacques Blanchard (1600–38) depicts
Mars’ encounter with a Vestal Virgin,
who subsequently gave birth to Romulus
and Remus, founders of Rome.

. Pukumani
Grave Posts (1958)
Carved by the Tiwi
people of Melville
Island (north of
Australia), these
posts represent
qualities of the
deceased whose
grave they solemnly
surrounded.

Sofala (1947)
Russell Drysdale’s
visions of
Australia show
“ghost” towns
laid waste by
devastating
natural forces
such as drought.

Gallery Guide
There are five levels. The Upper and
Ground levels, plus Lower Level 1 host
temporary exhibitions. The Ground
Level also has European and Australian
works. On Lower Level 2 are the
Contemporary galleries, which house
the most extensive collection of modern
art in the country. The Yiribana
Aboriginal Gallery is on Lower Level 3. Ground Level
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp482–3 and pp504–7