Becker Old Prince’s Bridge 1857 {1894} SLV [PA]

Becker, Ludwig (1808-61; German/Australian)
Old Prince’s Bridge and St.Paul’s by Moonlight 1857
Oil on canvas, 49.7 x 59.8 cm (sight), framed
Bequest of Mrs Sarah Legge, 1894
State Library of Victoria (H287)

This dramatic view of 1850s Melbourne shows the original Prince’s Bridge (demolished in 1884), the first St Paul’s Church of England and adjacent school, and other recognizable early Melbourne monuments.

For the first St Paul’s, see also Strafford St Paul’s Church {1888} SLV [DR] (c.1854).

For further information on Becker, who died on the Burke and Wills expedition, see linked artist entry.

Refs.

AR 1894, p.22 (as by an unknown artist); SB, p.402 (acquired Dec.1894; valued at 8 guineas; the artist’s name is initially listed as unknown, later corrected to Ludwig Becker); NGV 1905, p.134 (V.Buvelot Gallery, 3^rd bay, no.56: as by Becker) 

For this work, see also Downer & Phipps Victorian Vision (1985), cat.39 and p.24-25