Industrial Cathedral

Industrial Cathedral
"Industrial Cathedral" charcoal on paper 131 x 131 cm Jane Bennett. Finalist in 1998 Dobell Drawing Prize Art Gallery of NSW Finalist 1998 Blake Prize Winner 1998 Hunter's Hill Open Art Prize

About Me

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Sydney, NSW, Australia
I'm an Industrial Heritage Artist who paints "en plein air".If it's damaged, derelict, doomed and about to disappear, I'll be there to paint it.
Showing posts with label CBD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CBD. Show all posts

Thursday 29 October 2015

Sydney Sandstone - Painting the Lands Department building

The Lands Department building 22-33 Bridge Street Sydney, is one of the most outstanding surviving Victorian buildings in Sydney. The building had been used continuously for the purpose which it was designed for - as the administrative head office of Department of Lands.
Unfortunately, this will soon change.
I don't know whether all the original features which makes this building so wonderful will be retained, but I thought that I should attempt to paint it while it is still in its original state.
I managed to set up my easel in Macquarie Place Park, directly opposite the corner of Bridge and Gresham street.
plein air oil painting of Lands Department building in Bridge st Sydney by heritage artist Jane Bennett
U235'Statues of Explorers', Lands Department
2015 oil on canvas 31 x 31cm

Enquiries
James Barnet was the architect mostly responsible for the design of the Lands Department building, although Walter Liberty Vernon and William Edmund Kemp also made contributions.
plein air oil painting of Lands Department building in Bridge st Sydney by heritage artist Jane Bennett
U235'Statues of Explorers', Lands Department
2015 oil on canvas 31 x 31cm

Enquiries





































The foundation stone was laid in 1876 by the Minister of Lands and it was completed in 1893. The Renaissance Revival Style facades are of dressed Pyrmont sandstone
The ground, first, and second floors have pilasters and entablatures of the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders respectively, each standing on appropriate pedestals.  
plein air oil painting of Lands Department building in Bridge st Sydney by heritage artist Jane Bennett
U235'Statues of Explorers', Lands Department
2015 oil on canvas 31 x 31cm

Enquiries
A large copper dome, 55' square at the base, but changing to an octagon at the top, rises above the Bridge Street facade.
The clock tower has a copper onion-shaped dome which was allegedly influenced by the shape of the water carafe of Sir Henry Parkes.
plein air oil painting of Lands Department building in Bridge st Sydney by heritage artist Jane Bennett
U235'Statues of Explorers', Lands Department
2015 oil on canvas 31 x 31cm

Enquiries




















The best of Classical tradition was fused with the most cutting edge technology for the period. Heating, lighting, ventilation and a system of communication involving speaking through tubes and operating pneumatic bells was incorporated in the design.
Builder John Young introduced one of Sydney’s first reinforced-concrete floor slabs, with concrete vaults to improve fire resistance.
plein air oil painting of Lands Department building in Bridge st Sydney by heritage artist Jane Bennett
U235'Statues of Explorers', Lands Department
 2015 oil on canvas 31 x 31cm

Enquiries























There are 12 niches on each facade, which were all intended to be filled with sculptures of explorers or legislators who made a major contribution to the settlement of the nation.
Although 48 men were nominated by the architect as being suitable subjects, most were rejected and only 23 statues were commissioned, leaving 25 niches unfilled. 
In 2010-11 a new statue of colonial surveyor James Meehan (1774-1826) was created and placed in an empty niche on corner of Loftus/Bent Streets.
plein air oil painting of Lands Department building in Bridge st Sydney by heritage artist Jane Bennett
U235'Statues of Explorers', Lands Department
2015 oil on canvas 31 x 31cm

Enquiries






































In my painting the statue of the botanist Sir Joseph Banks is on the left, and the statue of the explorer Sturt on the right.
plein air oil painting of Lands Department building in Bridge st Sydney by heritage artist Jane Bennett
U235'Statues of Explorers', Lands Department
2015 oil on canvas 31 x 31cm

Enquiries
In the late 1980s the building was earmarked by the NSW Governnment as one of the potential sites for conversion into a casino.
To protect the building from unsympathetic development, a Permanent Conservation Order was passed by the NSW Heritage Council. 
However, although it is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in Australia, it still faces an uncertain future.
Both Sydney’s historic
The hotel will open in 2021 after the government employees finally leave in 2018.


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Monday 26 October 2015

In the Shadows- Painting the Justice and Police Museum

The Sydney Open will be held next Sunday. For just one day a year, the secrets of Sydney’s most treasured and architecturally significant buildings are revealed to the public.
So, in the spirit of this event, I decided to paint one of Sydney's most beautiful sandstone buildings.
Although it was difficult, bordering on the impossible,I managed to set up an easel and paint 'en plein air' right in the heart of the CBD.
Plein air oil painting of the Justice and Police Museum, Sydney Living Museums by heritage artist Jane Bennett
Plein air painting of the "Justice and Police Museum"
2015 oil on canvas 13 x 18cm

 
The Justice and Police Museum is one of the city's most overlooked heritage gems. It is hidden away on the quiet leafy corner of Phillip and Albert Streets, a stone's throw from Circular Quay.
It was a tight squeeze for the bendy bus!
Plein air oil painting of the Justice and Police Museum, Sydney Living Museums by heritage artist Jane Bennett
Plein air painting of the "Justice and Police Museum"
2015 oil on canvas 13 x 18cm

 
It incorporates the old Water Police Court (1856), designed by Edmund Blacket; the Water Police Station (1858), attributed to Alexander Dawson and the Police Court (1886), designed by James Barnet. 
The complex had remained in use as a police station as late as 1985, when the area was a busy legal hub.
Today the museum tells the story of the seamy side of Sydney’s past.
Plein air oil painting of the Justice and Police Museum, Sydney Living Museums by heritage artist Jane Bennett
Plein air painting of the "Justice and Police Museum"
2015 oil on canvas 13 x 18cm

 

























The golden sandstone, graceful columns and dappled shade give a deceptive impression. 
Behind the elegant facade lurk dingy 1890s holding cells, offices, charge room and courts. A century of underworld Sydney is contained inside.
Plein air oil painting of the Justice and Police Museum, Sydney Living Museums by heritage artist Jane Bennett
Plein air painting of the "Justice and Police Museum"
2015 oil on canvas 13 x 18cm

 



















The guilty, the innocent and the unknown. 
Mug shots of bushrangers, sly groggers, drifters, razor gangs and "colourful racing identities" rub shoulders with cops and judges.
Plein air oil painting of the Justice and Police Museum, Sydney Living Museums by heritage artist Jane Bennett
Plein air painting of the "Justice and Police Museum"
2015 oil on canvas 13 x 18cm

 

























So very Sydney.

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