Art Gallery of New South Wales

Virtual Tour of the Art Gallery of New South Wales

“The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon” by Edward Poynter
“Vive L’Empereur” by Edouard Detaille
“Bailed Up” by Tom Roberts
“Cymon and Iphigenia” by Lord Frederic Leighton
“Summer Time” by Rupert Bunny
Diogenes by John William Waterhouse
“Joshua passing the River Jordan with the Ark of the Covenant” by Benjamin West

Highlights Tour of the Art Gallery of New South Wales

“The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon” by Edward Poynter

“The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon” by Edward Poynter depicts the story from the Hebrew Bible in which the Queen of Sheba visits Solomon, the King of Israel, and a son of King David.

The Bible describes how the fame of Solomon’s wisdom and wealth had spread so far and wide, that the Queen of Sheba decided to visit and see for herself if the stories were real.

The queen came bearing gifts, including gold, spices, and precious stones, and King Solomon responded in kind and gave her “all her desire, whatsoever she asked,” and she left satisfied (1 Kings 10:10).

Nearly 3,000 years later, the visit of the Queen of Sheba continues to inspire the creative imagination and has become the subject of many stories that have inspired many artists.

“Vive L’Empereur” by Edouard Detaille

“Vive L’Empereur” by Edouard Detaille depicts the cavalry charge of the 4th Hussars during the “Battle of Friedland.”

Historians regard the Battle of Friedland as one of the most brilliant victories of Napoleon during the heyday of the French Empire.

In the “Battle of Friedland,” which took place in 1807, the French army under the command of Napoleon won decisively against a Russian army.

The battle took place in the territory of Friedland, which was part of East Prussia and now part of modern-day Russia. The battle took place 84 years before this painting was created.

“Bailed Up” by Tom Roberts

“Bailed Up” by Tom Roberts depicts a distinctive Australian subject of a stagecoach being held up by bushrangers in a forested section of an isolated road.

Tom Roberts painted this work in 1895 while staying at a sheep station near a small town called Inverell in northern New South Wales, Australia.

It was at this sheep station that he also painted “The Golden Fleece,” a famous painting depicting sheep shearing.

“Cymon and Iphigenia” by Lord Frederic Leighton

“Cymon and Iphigenia” by Frederic Leighton depicts a mythological story about “Cymon” which means “the brute,” who one day while walking in the woods, discovered a young woman, “Iphigenia,” fast asleep in a meadow under a tree, and her beauty awoke his soul.

This parable of grace soothing the savage beast inverts the myth of “Sleeping Beauty,” in which a man awakens a young woman to adulthood. In this mythological story, the woman inspires the male, brute.

“Summer Time” by Rupert Bunny

“Summer Time” was painted by Rupert Bunny, who was a magnificent colorist and erudite painter of classic themes and could masterfully handle large-scale composition.

This painting epitomizes a spirit of leisure and sensuality, depicting seven voluptuous women lounging inside a bathhouse.

Bunny modeled each of the figures on his wife Jeanne Morel, who sat for many paintings during this period. Jeanne is a French variation of Jean, and the meaning of the name is “God is gracious.”

Diogenes by John William Waterhouse

“Summer Time” was painted by Rupert Bunny, who was a magnificent colorist and erudite painter of classic themes and could masterfully handle large-scale composition.

This painting epitomizes a spirit of leisure and sensuality, depicting seven voluptuous women lounging inside a bathhouse.

Bunny modeled each of the figures on his wife Jeanne Morel, who sat for many paintings during this period. Jeanne is a French variation of Jean, and the meaning of the name is “God is gracious.”

“Joshua passing the River Jordan with the Ark of the Covenant” by Benjamin West

“Joshua passing the River Jordan with the Ark of the Covenant” by Benjamin West depicts a key event in Israel’s history.

Just as crossing the Red Sea transformed the peoples of Israel from slavery to freedom, crossing the River Jordan into the Promised Land, transformed Israel into a nation.

After wandering in the desert 40 years, the Israelites finally approached the boundary of the Promised Land.

When the Israelites, led by Joshua toward the Promised Land, arrived at the banks of the Jordan river, the Ark was carried in front of the people and was the signal for their advance.