Residence of John Macarthur Esq near Parramatta N.S.W.

This watercolour and gouache on paper, made by one of New South Wales’ most mercurial convict artists, Joseph Lycett, presents a verdant and prosperous image of a fledgling colony. In the foreground, an upper-class couple, most likely John and Elizabeth Macarthur, enjoy their new-found pastoral wealth, while in the background their recently refurbished residence, known to this day as Elizabeth Farm, is set within the picturesque landscape of the Parramatta River, in Dharug Country.

The painting was translated into a hand-coloured engraving and published in London as part of the artist’s Views in Australia, following his return from the colony. The publication and its celebration of colonial wealth were aimed at potential emigrants, while other aspects of Lycett’s oeuvre, including botanical works and depictions of Aboriginal people in the landscape, suggest his attentiveness to his new environment.

Tracey Lock, Curator of Australian Paintings and Sculptures