Summary
Oil painting titled 'An Evening at the International Exhibition' by British genre painter William Powell Frith, circa 1888.
Frith exhibited a number of works in the British Fine Art Court at the Melbourne Centennial International Exhibition (MCIE) which was held in the (Royal) Exhibition Building from 1 August 1888 to 31 January 1889. No evidence has been located to show that Frith visited Melbourne during the MCIE. It is possible he did, or that he was inspired to create this work from the numerous illustrations of the Exhibition published in British newspapers.
An evening scene, it shows the electric lighting on the exterior of the Building, which was a major Exhibition draw card.
Description of Content
Oil painting - A Evening at the International Exhibition
Physical Description
Oil painting on canvas with wooden, semi-moulded and semi-gilded and painted frame. Depicts a crowd scene outside the southern facade of the Royal Exhibition Building during the 1888-1889 Centennial Exhibition. An evening scene, it shows the electric lighting on the exterior of the Building, which was a major Exhibition draw card. Crowds visited the Exhibition at night to promenade and to frequent the spectacular popular concert program.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
Public Life & Institutions, Leisure, Royal Exhibition Building
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Acquisition Information
Purchase
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Artist
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Place & Date Depicted
Royal Exhibition Building (REB), Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1 Aug 1888 - 31 Jan 1889
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Inscriptions
Signed: W. P. Frith.
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Classification
Public events, Melbourne centennial exhibition 1888, Paintings
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Exhibition Collection Management
81 mm (Length), 4.5 mm (Width), 63 mm (Height)
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Overall Dimensions
688 mm (Width), 16 mm (Depth), 505 mm (Height)
out of frame
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References
Dunstan, David, Victorian Icon Various art encyclopedias; 1888-89 Melbourne Centennial International Exhibit-
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Keywords
Amusements, Art, Artworks, Buildings, Centenaries, Crowds, Exhibitions, Exhibitions: Melbourne International Centennial, 1888-1889, Exterior Views, Leisure, Paintings, Royal Exhibition Building, World Fairs
