Page 208 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

206  NE W SOUTH W ALES AND A C T

6 National Gallery of Australia

Australian society is diverse, multicultural and vibrant, and
the 160,000 works of art owned by the National Gallery of
Australia reflect the spirit of the country. The NGA opened
in 1982, and the core of its collection consists of Australian
art, from European settlement to present day, by some
of its most famous artists, such as Tom Roberts,
Arthur Boyd, Sidney Nolan and Margaret
Preston (see p38)p38)p38 . The oldest art in
Australia is that of its indigenous
inhabitants (see pp36–7)pp36–7)pp36–7 , and the
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander art
collection offers fine examples of Level 2
both ancient and contemporary works.
The gallery’s Asian and international
collections are also growing. Modern
sculptures are on display in the gardens.

. In a Corner on the MacIntyre (1895)
Tom Roberts’ depiction of this country’s
bushland is painted in the fractured
light style of the Australian School
of Impressionists.

Sandringham Beach (c.1933)
This dynamic painting by Clarice
Beckett exudes a leisurely feel
that captures Australia’s passion Level 1
for the beach as a place of Entrance
relaxation and recreation.
Gallery Guide
Sculpture Garden
The National Gallery is easily
The National Gallery makes visited within two hours,
the most of its picturesque, although an excellent one-hour
lakeside gardens as the site tour of the highlights is offered
for an impressive collection twice daily. On the lower level
of sculptures, from classical, is the largest Aboriginal art
such as Aristide Maillol’s The collection in the world and the
Mountain, to modern. Two of Impressionism to Pop collections.
the best known and loved
contemporary sculptures in Also highly recommended, on
the garden are Cones by Bert the upper level, is the extensive
Flugelman and The Pears by Australian art collection.
George Baldessin. Touring “blockbuster” art
shows are featured at the gallery
The Mountain by Aristide Maillol at least twice per year.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p485 and pp510–11