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Lot Essay
From 1923 until his death, Streeton was based in Melbourne, dividing his time between his Toorak home and his retreat at Olinda in the Dandenong Ranges, where he was to spend the last few years of his life.
While this late but lyrical work by Streeton could represent a situation taken from life, it is far more likely to be a genre piece, with the sylvan setting and nymph-like figures beside the riverbank creating the impression of a pastoral idyll. A comparison with other works from this period, specifically those completed along Victoria's shipwreck coast, such as Loch Ard Gorge, (Christie's, Melbourne, August 2001, Lot 49) show similarly ethereal figures and convey a sense of a peaceful haven which was keenly sought after in post-war Australia.
"Shall we gather at the River" (Souvenir Heidelberg 1888) has many characteristic elements such as the high key of the palette and the bleached light which floods the blue, gold and green landscape. It is likely that the painting is housed in its original John Thallon frame. More common in the later post-war works is also an air of nostalgia. This sense of nostalgia is further strengthened by the title, which harks back to the Arcadian period of Streeton's youth.
An unusual and personal note is present in the artist's palette that lies in the foreground and the musical notes in the lower left corner. The latter may perhaps be a reference to the artist's wife, Nora Clench, who was a violinist in a string quartet and who died on 17 May 1938.
While this late but lyrical work by Streeton could represent a situation taken from life, it is far more likely to be a genre piece, with the sylvan setting and nymph-like figures beside the riverbank creating the impression of a pastoral idyll. A comparison with other works from this period, specifically those completed along Victoria's shipwreck coast, such as Loch Ard Gorge, (Christie's, Melbourne, August 2001, Lot 49) show similarly ethereal figures and convey a sense of a peaceful haven which was keenly sought after in post-war Australia.
"Shall we gather at the River" (Souvenir Heidelberg 1888) has many characteristic elements such as the high key of the palette and the bleached light which floods the blue, gold and green landscape. It is likely that the painting is housed in its original John Thallon frame. More common in the later post-war works is also an air of nostalgia. This sense of nostalgia is further strengthened by the title, which harks back to the Arcadian period of Streeton's youth.
An unusual and personal note is present in the artist's palette that lies in the foreground and the musical notes in the lower left corner. The latter may perhaps be a reference to the artist's wife, Nora Clench, who was a violinist in a string quartet and who died on 17 May 1938.