Primary Artist

Matthew Dubourg (1786–1838)

Title

Trial.

Date made

1 October 1813 (imprint)

Place made

London, Greater London, England View on map Close map

Reference

Ferguson (1941-69, 1986), 577

Category

Print

Print type

intaglio

Technique

etching and aquatint, printed in black ink, from one copper plate; hand-coloured in water colour

Text printed from matrix

printed lower centre below image, 'TRIAL'.
printed lower left below lower border line, 'J.H.Clark Del.'.
printed lower right below lower border line, 'M.Dubourg Sculpt.'.
printed lower centre below lower border line, 'Published & Sold October 1st. 1813, by Edwd. Orme, Bond St. London.'.

Matrix size

17.0 × 22.1 cm (printed image) 18.3 × 23.4 cm (plate-mark)

Edition information

print run unknown

Subject description

Large group of Aboriginals with spears testing a single Aboriginal man protecting himself with a shield. Some broken spears lie on the ground.

Country of context

Australia

Legacy id

68381

Creators

Clark, John Heaviside. | (1770–1863) Scottish | Male | print after

Dubourg, Matthew. | (1786–1838) British | Male | etcher

Orme, Edward | (1774–1848) English | Male | publisher

Last Updated

14 Feb 2026