Historical information

"I have got it" is the title of this painting created on the goldfienlds in Ballarat in 1854. Eugene von Guérard, painter and teacher, was born in November 1811 in Vienna. From 1826, he toured Italy with his artist father and between 1830 and 1832 resided in Rome. From around 1839 to 1844, he studied landscape painting at the Dusseldorf Academy, and travelled widely. In 1852, he moved to London, and in August that year decided to travel to Victoria, Australia to try his luck on the goldfields. He arrived at Geelong on 24 December 1852, and made many sketches of the mining districts around Ballarat until 1854. He moved to Melbourne, and in 1870 was appointed the first Master of the School of Painting, National Gallery of Victoria. He retired from this position at the end of 1881, and in 1882 departed for Europe. In 1891, he moved to London, and died in London on 17 April 1901. He is buried in Brompton Cemetery, Chelsea, England.

Physical description

Print of an oil painting by Eugene von Guerard called 'I have got it ', painted in 1854. It depicts a mining camp in the bush, there are several tents in the background and two men using windlasses, in front of these there is a digger posing with a gold dish with gold visible at the base of the dish. Behind him there is a wooden tub and bucket, with a spade resting in the tub. This painting is from a collection at the State Library of Victoria.

Inscriptions & markings

Eugene von Guerard