Australia's Achievement In Art
Special Number of "Art In Australia" Issued In Commemoration Of Australia's 150th Anniversary
52 Plates In Colour
Published by John Fairfax & Sons Pty. Limited: Sydney 1937
Complete With All 52 Coloured Plates
Provenance:
Inscribed To Major General Neville Cameron
"Australia's Achievement in Art was issued as a special commemorative number of the celebrated Art in Australia series to mark the 150th anniversary of European settlement in Australia. Published in Sydney by John Fairfax & Sons in 1937, the volume was conceived as both a national artistic showcase and a cultural statement, presenting the finest achievements of Australian painting to an audience increasingly conscious of a distinctive national identity. Through carefully selected reproductions and accompanying commentary, it traces the development of Australian art from colonial beginnings to the mature landscape and figurative traditions of the early twentieth century.
The work is renowned for its superb production quality and visual richness. Complete with all 52 colour plates, it reproduces significant works by many of Australia's leading artists, including celebrated landscape painters whose interpretations of the Australian bush, countryside and coastal environment helped define the nation's artistic character. The plates remain the centrepiece of the volume, offering a remarkable survey of Australian painting at a time when colour reproduction of this quality was still a costly and prestigious undertaking.
Beyond its artistic importance, this particular copy carries an appealing contemporary presentation inscription dated 18 March 1939 to Major General Neville Cameron and Mrs Cameron. Cameron was a distinguished Australian military officer whose career spanned both the First and Second World Wars, lending the volume an additional layer of historical interest and provenance. Such associations provide a tangible connection between the book and prominent figures of the era in which it was produced.
Elegantly bound in its original cord-tied portfolio-style format, Australia's Achievement in Art remains one of the most attractive Australian art publications of the interwar period. Issued to celebrate a major national milestone and complete with all 52 colour plates, it stands as both a landmark survey of Australian artistic accomplishment and a beautifully produced collector's piece, highly desirable to collectors of Australian art, cultural history and fine illustrated books."
General wear with a some chipping, light staining etc to the covers and spine as shown. Binding is excellent with no loose pages. All plates present however one sits loose. Pages clean and well presented. A nice copy in good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
