A non descript bird found at Botany Bay from a drawing made on the spot 1792.
Primary Artist
Arthur B. Smyth (1750–1790)
Title
A non descript bird found at Botany Bay from a drawing made on the spot 1792.
Date made
1792 (after)
Place made
London, England View on map Close map
Category
Print type
intaglio
Technique
etching and engraving, printed in black ink, from one copper plate
Text printed from matrix
printed within cartouche upper centre within image, 'A non descript BIRD / found at / BOTANY BAY / From a Drawing made on the spot / 1792'.
printed centre below image, 'The Bird measured seven Feet two Inches in height & three Feet seven Inches / in length. It approaches nearest to the Emu of South America or the Cossowary of Java.'.
Matrix size
24.3 x 21.0 cm (plate-mark, NGV impression)
Support
paper
Support size
25.0 x 19.0 cm (sheet)
State
published state
Impression
undesignated impression as issued
Edition information
print run unknown
Production notes
The original drawing by Bowes Smyth, originally part of his journal, is held by the State Library of New South Wales. see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Bowes_Smyth#/media/File:Emu,_or_%60New_genus_of_Bird_at_Botany_bay_1788_A604005h.jpg
Inscriptions or device by artist or designated agent
no inscriptions.
Collection
National Gallery of Australia
IRN
236038
Accession number
2013.701
Accession method
Purchase
Provenance
Purchased from Josef Lebovic Gallery, Sydney, 2013
Credit line
Purchased 2013
Web address
https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/236038
Country of context
Australia
Creators
Smyth, Arthur B. | (1750–1790) English | print after
Last Updated
12 Oct 2025