Sydney Harbour near Watson’s Bay1851

During the 1830s and 1840s colonial patrons, who were mostly free emigrants, conceived of Sydney as a miniature English town. Interest grew in views of the attractive bays and inlets of Sydney Harbour as places of relaxation and pleasure. Prior to this, most views of Sydney focused on Sydney Cove itself.

The clear bright tone of this romantic painting makes it one of George Peacock’s most successful. The neatly drawn figures of the fishermen in the foreground of this painting are included to add interest to the image, not as factual documentation.