Lot 5: Frederick Garling (Australian, 1806-1873)

The barque "Ann" bound for Calcutta, off Millers Point, Sydney, 13th August 1845
watercolour with scratching out
29.8 x 43.2 cm. (11 3/4 x 17 in.)

The "Ann" was built at Bombay in 1812 and measured at 801 tons. Originally carrying a full ship rig, she was later re-rigged as a barque, a common practice to reduce crewing costs later in the century. Depicted here on 13th August 1845, with her Marryat Flag Code number (364) on her mizzen mast and the 'Blue Peter' at her foremasthead to signify departure, she was outward bound for Calcutta with a cargo of 129 horses purchased by the government of India.

After many years in the Bombay trade, the "Ann" had become a stalwart on the Australian and New Zealand runs, to the extent that she was also chartered as a troopship in 1847 to convey soldiers (and their families) to Auckland, New Zealand to fight in the wars against the Maoris. A remarkably long-lived vessel, she was still afloat in the mid-1860s after when she disappears from record.

Garling arrived in Sydney in 1815 at the age of nine and in 1827 became a Customs Officer and through this became intimately involved with the movement of vessels within the port of Sydney. Garling's reputation as an artist was sufficiently established for the Sydney Morning Herald of 26th July 1847 to describe him as "one of our best maritime painters".

Frederick Garling depicts the 'Ann' leaving Millers Point, above the wharf can be seen the Victoria Terraces and the offices of the French Consul M. Farramond.

A similar watercolour by Garling depicting horses being loaded at the same wharf was exhibited at 'Frederick Garling', State Library of New South Wales, May-August 2003.