50 Treasures: Victorian Lady's Sketchbook

One of our 50 Treasures from the James Cook University Library's Special Collections, the Victorian Lady's Sketchbook is a mystery. We don't know who the creator is, where they came from or why they visited Australia, but we do know they made drawings and watercolour sketches of their journey from England, through India and into Australia - spending quality time in Bowen, Queensland.
50 Treasures: Celebrating 50 years of James Cook University.
nqheritage.jcu...

[@kuwag_o]

imagine in later centuries people are going to be looking at our sketchbooks......

[@milagrosmatias2583]

They would wanna delete history

[@biaj.8864]

They would burn mine

[@RadishTheFool]

There is actually a Sketchbook Project where people can order a sketchbook, fill it up, then donate it to The Brooklyn Art Library. People can view the physical copy there, or look at it online.

[@kuwag_o]

@@RadishTheFool honestly thats kinda cool! i just hope that people wont fill the books with scribbles and then donate it lol

[@scribbliedoo]

@@RadishTheFoolsad that this is now closed

[@BillDavies-ej6ye]

No-one has commented that the placename is Welsh - Pencraig = head (or end) of the rock. The surnames are also Welsh, Bowen = ap Owen, son of Owen, and Hughes (English spelling) = son of Hugh, In Welsh, Huw. Ap Huw is anglicised as Pugh. Gloucester Island is a group of protected islands on the Great Barrier Reef. I wonder if these places are identifiable.

[@danthomas6587]

I had to Google the pencil to see when it was invented. 1795 by Nicolas Conte. The renderings are just lovely.

[@girlfriday1299]

Gorgeous! I love the flowers, and also those grand vistas painted in light limited palette washes. A large subject painted in a small format look just as expansive.

[@studiowylen]

It's so cool to see old sketchbooks

[@recreepy]

Bravoo!This is the type of content that lifts spirits.

[@blendedskin8850]

i pray that nobody looks through my private sketchbook

[@TaLeng2023]

Is it all BL? 😋

[@angelagrimes8237]

I was trained to be a botanical artist but never really was able to reach my potential except in my own sketch books. I think that it is interesting that the narrative gives the book a feminine title - A Victorian Lady’s Sketchbook but then begins to waffle about is it a woman or a man (she?/he?). Sure we don’t factually know who did the sketches but the styling is feminine to my eyes. That said I think if the curators question the gender of the artist then change the name of the book to A late Victorian Sketchbook.

[@Priyanaik1983]

Absolutely intriguing.

[@mellomwe]

beautiful artworks

[@ImissSaganCarl]

Simply beautiful. Thank you for sharing this; it made my day.

[@humanharddrive1]

fascinating. this can't be sold, it should be digitized and printed

[@CristinaLaiASMR]

Very nice

[@soy_meraki]

Wow :0

[@sanjanewmoonlife]

Brilliant beautiful amazing lovely 🌹🌹🎉🎉❤❤

[@AveArtz]

Wow

[@allthingsclouds]

Maybe try DNA testing. There is a way nowadays to find out anything ...

[@heikesiegl2640]

There are better ways to spend money

[@gmphgegwdxvhgpywasfk738]

text

[@hhhhngg]

reply

[@gmphgegwdxvhgpywasfk738]

text