John Lewin facts for kids

John William Lewin (1770 – 27 August 1819) was an English artist who moved to Australia in 1800. He was the first professional artist in the new colony of New South Wales. He drew many pictures of Australia's amazing plants and animals, especially birds. His work helped people in England learn about the unique wildlife of Australia.

Early Life and Artistic Beginnings

John William Lewin's father, William Lewin, was also a famous artist who drew scientific pictures. His father wrote a big book called The Birds of Great Britain. John and his brother Thomas helped their father with his artwork. This early training helped John become a skilled artist himself. Around 1797, John became very interested in visiting New South Wales.

Journey to a New World

John Lewin planned to travel to New South Wales in 1798. He wanted to draw birds and insects for a British supporter named Dru Drury. He missed his first ship, HMS Buffalo, but his wife traveled on it and arrived in Australia in May 1799. Lewin arrived later on the ship Minerva on January 11, 1800. This made him the first professional artist to live in the new colony.

He hoped to sell books of his drawings to earn money to return home. However, by the time he published his first book, Prodromus Entomology, Natural History of Lepidopterous Insects of New South Wales, in 1805, people in England were less interested in Australian nature. His next book, Birds of New Holland with their Natural History, published in London in 1808, is very rare today. This suggests that many copies might have been lost.

In 1813, a new version of his bird book was made in Australia. This was the first illustrated book ever to be printed in Australia! Another book, Birds of New South Wales, is also very rare. Lewin wrote the simple text for this book, and it was printed by the Government Printer, George Howe.

Life and Work in Australia

Lewin and his wife were given a small farm near Parramatta. But by 1808, they lived in Sydney. There, Lewin offered his services as an artist who painted small portraits. Early leaders like Governors Philip Gidley King and William Bligh supported his work.

Governor Macquarie understood how useful a professional artist could be for the colony. To make sure Lewin had a steady income, Macquarie made him the city coroner in 1810. In 1815, Lewin joined an official trip to explore new lands beyond the Blue Mountains. His beautiful watercolour paintings from this trip are now kept at the State Library of New South Wales. Governor Macquarie also asked Lewin to draw plants collected by the surveyor-general, John Oxley. These plants were found during explorations near Bathurst, the Liverpool Plains, and New England.

John William Lewin passed away in Sydney on August 27, 1819. He left behind his wife and a son. His tombstone can be found at Botany Bay Cemetery. Two birds are named after him: Lewin's rail (Lewinia pectoralis) and Lewin's honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii).

Lewin's Artistic Legacy

Because Lewin had trained as a natural history artist, he was very good at observing the Australian landscape, its animals, and plants. Art critic Robert Hughes said that Lewin was the first to truly capture the unique "look" of Australia. He did this without being influenced by European art styles.

Art historian Bernard Smith noted that Lewin "understood the nature of the eucalyptus tree, its light leaves that you can see through, and the slender, feathery grasses of the inland." He also managed to show a real Australian bush feeling in his art.

Walter Wilson Froggatt wrote that Lewin "collected insects at all stages of their lives, studied how they lived, noted what plants they ate, and made accurate coloured drawings of the living insects."

Even though Lewin became an Associate of the Linnean Society, he wasn't part of the big scientific groups of famous naturalists like Robert Brown or Sir Joseph Banks. Instead, he was trained as a practical collector and craftsman. He found it hard to write about science; his own writings for Birds of New South Wales are very simple.

However, he was an excellent observer. While he might not have been a "great" natural history artist, he brought a sharp eye for detail and design to his work. Being in Australia and seeing its unique plants and animals made his art even better. He changed from drawing typical natural history pictures in England to creating strong images set in their local Australian surroundings.

Even though he didn't do well as a publisher, his large watercolour paintings of amazing Australian plants and animals seemed to sell steadily. He also wanted to be seen as a professional artist, not just someone who drew illustrations. In 1812, he mentioned painting a very large picture (15 by 18 feet) of a corroboree (an Aboriginal gathering). Lewin seemed to settle permanently in Australia, where he was one of the few professional artists. This helped him gain respect both socially and professionally.

Images for kids

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  Sydney cove 1808

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  Pimelea linifolia from a botanical series in watercolour by the artist.

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  Ornithorhynchus anatinus Painting by John Lewin of a platypus, painted in 1808 or 1810.

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  Thylacinus cynocephalus Painting by John Lewin of a thylacine (Tasmanian tiger), painted in 1817.

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  Banksia serrata [Detail] C. 1803-1808?

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  Red kangaroos, Liverpool Plains, Sydney, ca. 1819

See also

• Art of Australia
• List of Australian botanical illustrators