Sheep run and wool dray, c1855

Description

This is an oil painting on canvas, measuring 12.2 cm x 19.0 cm, painted in about 1855. It is made in the form of a Christmas card, inscribed with 'The COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON'. The painting has two 'pictures within a picture', like wall hangings, surrounded by the leaves and bright red flowers of Sturt's desert pea. One picture, captioned 'A SHEEP RUN', shows a creek running through an area of countryside with some hills, and a large flat area. On one hill is the main homestead with some outbuildings. A small building on the other side of the creek is captioned 'SHEPHERD'S HUT'. In the foreground are sheep, and a man with a dog. The other smaller, circular picture is shown suspended on string. It is captioned 'BRINGING DOWN WOOL' and shows a two-wheeled bullock dray laden with wool bales, with the driver standing alongside it as it comes down a steep bush track.

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