“Dandenongs from Heidelberg” by Charles Conder
“Dandenongs from Heidelberg” by Charles Conder depicts the Dandenong Ranges, commonly just the Dandenongs, which are a set of low mountain ranges, east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The ranges consist mostly of rolling hills, steeply weathered valleys, and gullies covered in Mountain Ash trees and dense ferny undergrowth.
The sketch-like qualities widely associated with Impressionism are evident in this painting. Conder worked en Plein air to produce a sketchy masterpiece, vivid in color and abstract in design.
Charles Edward was a painter, lithographer, and designer. He emigrated to Australia and was a key figure in the Heidelberg School, a distinctively Australian tradition in Western art.
Heidelberg School
The Heidelberg School was an Australian art movement of the late 19th century. The movement has latterly been described as Australian Impressionism. Key figures of the movement include Arthur Streeton, Walter Withers, Tom Roberts, Charles Conder, and Frederick McCubbin.
Dandenongs from Heidelberg
- Title: Dandenongs from Heidelberg
- Artist: Charles Conder
- Year: 1889
- Medium: oil on wood panel
- Dimensions: Height: 11.5 mm (0.45 in). Width: 23.5 mm (0.93 in).
- Museum: Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
Charles Edward Conder
- Artist: Charles Edward Conder
- Born: 1868 – Tottenham, Middlesex
- Died: 1909 (aged 40)
- Nationality: Australian
- Major Paintings:
A Tour of the Art Gallery of South Australia
Exploring the Heidelberg School of Art
- “A holiday at Mentone” by Charles Conder
- “Dandenongs from Heidelberg” by Charles Conder
- “Dandenongs from Heidelberg” by Charles Conder
- “The Green Parasol” by E. Phillips Fox
- “Child in The Bush” by Frederick McCubbin
- “Miss Minna Simpson” by Tom Roberts
- “From McMahon’s Point – fare one penny” by Arthur Streeton
- “The Spirit of the Drought” by Arthur Streeton
- “From McMahon’s Point – fare one penny” by Arthur Streeton
A Tour of Museums in Australia
Reflections
- How does Australian Impressionism differ from European Impressionism?
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“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.”
– Georgia O’Keeffe
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Photo Credits: 1) Charles Conder [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons