Cockatoo Island is a sandstone island to the west of Sydney Cove in the Parramatta River. It was initially used as a convict settlement and a quarry. In 1870 it became a dockyard and shipbuilding centre and with the foundation of the Australian Commonwealth, the principle Royal navy Dockyard. The artist, John Skinner Prout (1805-1876) emigrated from Britain in 1840 with his family. He was an established professional artist with his own lithographic press. Mainly a water-colourist and lithographer, he is regarded as one of the finest colonial artists of the period.
1874.
Steel engraving.
Later hand-colouring.
123 x 175 mm. Image size.
Good condition.