Angaston. Evening

Plate 28: Landscape illustration of the small settlement at Angaston. Part of the text accompanying the illustration reads:

'The township of Angaston, at German Pass, is picturesquely situated at the head of a rocky glen, looking towards Greenock Hills, over which the setting sun throws a purple radiance, as it sinks behind their wooded summits. The few houses which at present form the nucleus of a future town occupy a grassy flat between steep rounded hills, which are scattered here and there with park-like trees of the 'eucalyptus' family ... the lowing cattle are returning homewards: there is an air of peace and independence about the scene, with the little chapel on the hill, and the wreaths of smoke gently curling up from the cottages beneath the gum trees ...'

This is one of 60 coloured lithographs found in the 1847 edition of South Australia Illustrated by colonial artist George French Angas, together with a descriptive passage for each. The lithograph was created by J.W. Giles from Angas' original painting. The date assigned is assumed to be approximately when the lithographs were created; the original paintings were completed in earlier years.

George French Angas (1822-1886), naturalist and painter, was born on 25 April 1822 at Newcastle upon Tyne, England, fourth child and eldest son of George Fife Angas and his wife Rosetta, née French. He sailed for Australia in 1843 on the Augustus, reached Adelaide in January 1844, and remained in South Australia until July when he left for New Zealand.

He returned to South Australia in January 1845 and remained for six months. During these visits to South Australia, Angas recorded landscapes and settlements seen in his travels in the colony in watercolour drawings.