Plate 21: Coast scene near Rapid Bay. Sunset. Natives fishing with nets. Part of the text for the illustration reads 'The accompanying drawing represents the sky at sunset ... during the autumn months. The thunder clouds which had gathered ... became bathed in a radiance of the most intense and exquisite rose colour, which was reflected back upon every object, with a strangely beautiful effect. Such was the scene I have endeavoured to represent, as witnessed from a small cove near Rapid Bay, at the mouth of the Parananakooka rivulet, on the eastern shores of Gulf St Vincent ... for the purpose of fishing [the inhabitants] use a seine about twenty or thirty feet in length, stretched upon sticks placed crosswise at intervals; a couple of men will drag this net amongst the rocks and shallows where fish are most abundant ...'.

Artist George French Angas painted some of the earliest views of South Australia. Arriving in Adelaide in January 1844, he rapidly set about an extensive series of journeys to the Murray Lakes, Barossa Valley, Fleurieu Peninsula and the South East, capturing his impressions of the young colony-its landscapes, its inhabitants and the flora and fauna.

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. Angas's paintings form a valuable record of the South Australian landscape and settlements in the early days of the colony. This 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. George French Angas sailed for Australia in 1843 in the Augustus, arriving in Adelaide in January 1844.

Angas 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 travelled with William Giles to the area in the vicinity of the mouth of the River Murray, and with Governor (Sir) George Grey to the south-east of the province, Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln. Angas recorded these journeys in watercolour drawings which were shown in Adelaide in June 1845 in the Legislative Council chamber.

Angas, George French, 1822-1886

Giles, J.W.

Treasures of the State Library of South Australia: South Australia illustrated by George French Angas

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Edition: Angas, George French

Pictures Catalogue National Library of Australia