Wrap-up for London research visit

London

Tuesday 16/8/2011

Sent thank-you emails to Sarah Kmosera and James Taylor re assistance with locating the Westall paintings, and a quick thank-you note to Andrea Kiraly at Imperial College Holiday accommodation for the studio/apartment in Orient House. I have previously sent my heart-felt thanks to the staff at the Natural History Museum, General Zoological Library (GenZooLib@nhm.ac.uk).

A summary review of my 8 working day research visit (the NMM is closed on Mondays) in London has been:

1. By far the most important element was getting access to the original artwork (both drawings and Watercolour painting) by Ferdinand Bauer of the zoological specimens, particularly the marine animals from the Mathew Flinders voyage 1801-03, held in the British Natural History Museum archives.
2. Producing still HD photographers (no flash) of 18 selected Bauer paintings and video footage of the Natural History Museum for context. I have also started negotiation to purchase selected stock images from the library. 
3. Direct discussion of the artwork produced during the Flinders and Baudin Voyages 1801-04, with Sarah Thomas author of the “Encounter, 1802: Art of the Flinders and Baudin Voyages” at the British Library. (And subsequently successfully contacting James Taylor, ex NMM and current PhD student, regarding the artwork produced by William Westall from the Mathew Flinders voyage 1801-03).
4. Less successful was my endeavour to get access to the documents produced by Mathew Flinders, most importantly his published Journal from the 1801-04 voyage, and the paintings by Westall from that voyage. With the exception of one excellent watercolor study by Westall of Port Lincoln in South Australia, thanks to the NMM, of which I obtained a still HD photograph.
5. There was a combination of factors working against this endeavour but the positive outcomes were that I made contact with the curators/librarians responsible for the various archives. I also registered and am accredited with the Natural History Museum library/archive and with the Caird Library of the National Maritime Museum. I have made contact with the MoD Art curator Ms Charlotte Henwood and am negotiating a possible viewing of some of Westall's Australian paintings held by the MoD (British Navy) in late October on my return journey.

As noted by James Taylor (Westall scholar), to his knowledge:

1. William Westall did not produce paintings of marine specimens, that was Bauer's prerogative;
2. The Mitchell library in NSW has copies of the Mathew Flinders documents, possibly his Journal, and a number of Westall's original works.

On the less tangible side, a positive outcome is a growing familiarity and increased ability to use the Sony HD camera and the production of stock video (of variable quality) for editing down into a documentary format.

Photos Views from Thames Ferry on trip to Greenwich (note it was not raining).