Eucalyptus ficifolia
Annie DORRINGTON: artist
Annie Whistler Dorrington was born in England and migrated to Australia in 1890 with her mother and eight siblings following her father’s death. In Melbourne she married Charles Dorrington, and they moved to Western Australia in 1895. Annie Dorrington was a highly-regarded painter of watercolours of wildflowers, and her works were exhibited at many international exhibitions. The decision to paint local flora like this Eucalyptus ficifolia (now Corymbia ficifolia), or red flowering gum, was associated with the nationalism of the emerging Federation movement, which promoted Australian subject matter for art. In 1901 Dorrington entered an international competition for the design of a new Australian flag, and was named one of five winners who had submitted similar designs, featuring the Southern Cross.
Title
Eucalyptus ficifolia
Artist/Maker and role
Annie DORRINGTON: artist
Date
c 1891-c 1926
Medium
watercolour
Measurements
40.5 x 20.2 cm (sheet)
Credit line
Purchased with funds from the Hackett Bequest Fund, 1936
The State Art Collection, The Art Gallery of Western Australia
Accession number
1936/0W92