Convict artists in Governor Macquarie's era
Thousands of convicts arrived in Australia from 1788 until the mid nineteenth century. Many brought with them skills and talents which were used to enrich the life and economy of the new colony. Artists and designers were among the convicted – unsurprisingly, several skilled artists were transported for forgery.
Some, such as Philip Slaeger and Walter Preston, were required to use their artistic skills as assigned servants. Others, like John Eyre, could not practise their art until they had received pardons from their sentences. But they all used their art to record and interpret the landscape and people of the fledgling colony. Their artistic documents contribute enormously to our understanding of early nineteenth century New South Wales.
Use the links below to find out more about the convict artists who arrived in Sydney during Governor Macquarie's rule (1810 - 1822).
> Philip Slaeger and Walter Preston
