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Tom ROBERTS | A mountain muster

Tom ROBERTS
England 1856 – Kallista 1931 AD
Australia from 1869; England, Europe 1881- 85, 1903-23

A mountain muster 1897-1920s , oil on canvas
133.0 (h) x 153.3 (w) cm National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Purchased with the assistance of Central Equity Limited and Westfield Holdings, and through the Art Foundation of Victoria with the assistance of the Joe White Bequest, Governor, 1995

A mountain muster was the last of Roberts’ national narratives. It is an image of movement, a scene where a large head of cattle run down a pale green hill towards the viewer, with the stockmen on horseback herding from the back. They are surrounded by tall she-oaks, and above there is a brilliant blue sky evoking the intense, clear heat of the Australian bush.