The Art of the First Fleet - Tapa dura

In 1788, nearly 1,500 people on 11 sailing ships came ashore at Port Jackson in Australia after a gruelling four month journey from England. This collection of vessels later became known as the First Fleet, and those who sailed in them were the community who established the first penal colony inNew South Wales and who laid the foundations for the birth of the nation of Australia. The Art of the First Fleet is a captivating collection of watercolours, washes, ink and pencil drawings created during this historic time, and now housed in the Natural History Museum. It depicts the natural history of this extraordinary land and the events that marked these initial formative years, as seen through the eyes of European settlers. The artists' drawings of the people and culture of the Eora people, the local indigenous population of the area, provide the only lasting visual record of their lives.

Lisa Di Tommaso has been an Assistant Librarian in the Library of the Natural History Museum, London, for over five years, where she has worked with the Earth Sciences, Zoological and General collections. She has a great interest in the Library's extensive art collection, and particularly its Australian works.