John J Martyr | Caragabal Station c1875
Caragabal Station c1875
Ink on paper
21.3 x 31 cm
Signed JJ Martyr lower left in ink
Inscribed in pencil on the mount board.
The drawing depicts Caragabal station owned by Andrew Gibson, but sold to his brother Frederick.
It is possible that his relationship with the Gibson’s may have come about through a mutual interest in gold exploration. There were diggings at Tirranna.
Caragabal Station is still intact.
It also fits the date (mid 1870s) that Martyr was doing ink drawings for the Art Union in Goulburn. It is quite possible that this was one of the 30 drawings raffled in the Art Union in 1876.
$3300 the pair
Tirranna Cottage and Caragabal Station
Andrew Faithful Gibson (1833- 1910) and
Frederick Faithful Gibson (1837-1913) Brothers and owners of Tirranna and Caragabal.
John (James) Martyr b 1819?- Died Goulburn 1882)
Land surveyor, explorer, draftsman, painter of landscapes and animals.
In the 1850s Martyr was on gold reconnaissance missions. In the 1860 he seems to be a valued member of the Goulburn council community. Drawing and painting seemed to be a hobby, or by product of his job as a surveyor.
In 1876 he has facilitated an art Union in the gallery of Mr Gregory a Goulburn based photographer and portrait painter.
The subscription based union, offered each purchaser of a ticket a well excuted ink drawing by Martyr, depicting local landscape scenes.
The total offering was 30 tickets at 1 gns each. (30 drawings)
