A survey of early Australian painting from 1788 to 1880 in which social influences and trends in art are well explained. Although many of the works featured are amateur in approach, the historical viewpoint is interesting and the more professional colonial artists are well documented. Precursors to the Heidelberg School such as Von Guerard and Buvelot are placed in their artistic and social context. There are 148 numbered colour plates, many full page; each refers to a list with details about the paintings. Well presented and easy to read, the book would lend itself well to the study of Australian art: the colonial art theme in year 11
