The Sunny South

Australias unique take on Impressionism is represented by four major artists: Tom Roberts, Charles Conder, Arthur Streeton, and John Peter Russell. The first three were leaders of what became known as the Heidelberg School (c. 1888), a time of a growing movement towards a federalisation of the colonies, and a sense of what it meant to be Australian, as the Australian-born population started to outnumber migrants.The landmark 9 by 5 Impression Exhibition of 1889 served to introduce Melbourne society to Impressionism through around 180 impressions or oil sketches, many of them painted on panels from cigar boxes of around 9 x 5 inches. Australian Impressionism is introduced as something quite different from French Impressionism. The book was published to accompany the exhibition Australia's Impressionists, held at the National Gallery, London, UK.