'The claim disputed', c1852

Description

This is a watercolour, measuring 19.4 cm x 25.4 cm, by Samuel Thomas Gill (1818-80), a famous colonial artist. It shows a well-dressed man - presumably the Gold Commissioner - arbitrating a dispute over a claim involving three diggers, probably on the Victorian gold fields. Two of the diggers are in animated discussion with the Commissioner, while the third is standing, arms crossed over his chest, looking intractable. The claim is seen marked out on the ground, with a survey peg at one corner. Another digger can be seen from the waist up, protruding from a mine shaft. The artist's initials, 'STG', are inscribed in the bottom left-hand corner and the title, 'The claim disputed', is in the bottom right-hand corner.

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