Beschreibung:

[SHARKEY, John (c. 1833-1898)]
Panoramic view of Sydney and Port Jackson. [Sydney:] Government Printers [c.1885].
Striking panoramic view of Port Jackson, commissioned by the government of New South Wales, capturing the economic and cultural growth of Sydney. The 1880s saw continued economic expansion in the Port Jackson region, driven by industries such as shipping, trade, and manufacturing. The present panorama captures the efforts made to improve the infrastructure of the port to accommodate the growing maritime trade, brought on by the arrival of steam power. The photographer, in this striking composition, captures this significant shift from sail to steam power, with the harbour waters filled with the imposing sailing ships of old, while to the right of the composition a singular steamship can be seen crossing the harbour; a vessel which in subsequent years would further connect Port Jackson to the global economy. Alongside the industrial and infrastructural changes, Sydney was undergoing a cultural expansion and numerous institutions, including museums, theatres, and educational facilities, were inaugurated to help establish a national identity. Within this milieu, the present lot was commissioned by the government, documenting for prosperity the growth of the city and port. It was most likely taken by John Sharkey, the first official photographer of the New South Wales government (1869-1896),
8 joined albumen photographs (204 x 1841mm) mounted on linen with green silk edging (280 x 1911mm; counting from left, 1st photograph with some light creasing, no. 5 and 6 both with tiny chip to top edge, occasional light spotting to linen mount); housed in original zinc container with paper label titled in ink manuscript (heavy spotting to label). Provenance: Somerset Richard Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore (1835-1913, Governor of New South Wales 1868-1872, no physical evidence of provenance; thence by descent).