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)

Date details

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.'.

Place made

London, England View on map Close map

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Category

Print

Print type

intaglio

Technique

etching and engraving, printed in black ink, from one copper plate

Matrix size

24.3 x 21.0 cm (plate-mark, NGV impression)

Support

paper

Support size

28.5 x 21.6 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

Collection

National Gallery of Victoria

Accession number

2005.356

Credit line

National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through the NGV Foundation by John Baird, Member, 2005

Web address

https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/77841/

Country of context

Australia

Creators

Smyth, Arthur B. | (1750–1790) English | print after

Last Updated

14 Oct 2025