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Creator
Browne, Richard, 1776 - 1824
Title
Magil, Corroboree dance [ca 1819-20] / [attributed to R.Browne]
Level of Description
Collection
Date of Work
[ca 1819-20]
Type of Material
Graphic Materials
Call Number
SV/147
Physical Description
Drawings : 1 watercolour ; 23.5 x 31.5 cm.
Administrative / Biographical Note
Biraban (Magil, McGill, Magill, Eaglehawk, We-pohng) (fl.1819-1842): An Aboriginal leader who was a member of the Awabakal or Newcastle tribe. From boyhood he was servant to an officer at the military barracks, Sydney, where he learnt to speak English fluently, and was given the name John McGill. He served as an interpreter in court cases involving Aborigines, Governor Darling recognising him as `king of the tribe at Lake Macquarie' -- Ref: Dictionary of Australian Artists Online.
Source
Purchased from Sotheby's, 1987 Transfer from SV* file in 2007 Pic.Acc.6417
Signatures / Inscriptions
Titled beneath image
General Note
Work is unsigned and undated; Dated from comparison with other dated works by Browne in the collection `Two variants of this subject are known, one is in the RexNan Kivell Collection, Canberra and another was sold at Sotheby's Sydney on 24th October 1985, Lot 81' -- Sotheby's Australia Catalogue 29 Oct 87 (PICTURES/Q017.3/12) A description of Biraban was published in `An Australian language as spoken by the Awabakal, the people of Awaba or Lake Macquarie (near Newcastle, New South Wales) / by L.E. Threlkeld' (N572.991/2) For further information: L. E. Threlkeld - Papers, 1817-1871, MLMSS 2111; A key to the structure of the Aboriginal language / By L.E. Threlkeld, N572.991/2; Rage for curiosity / Richard Neville, REF1/709.9407494/13A; Skottow Manuscript / Tim Bonyhady. Sydney : David Ell Press : Hordern House, 1988 (ML Q508.944/1)
Name
Biraban
Subject
Aboriginal Australians - - New South Wales.
Aboriginal Australians in art.
Topic
Aboriginal peoples (Australians)
corroborees
portraits
rites & ceremonies
weapons
Persons
Adult Males
Exhibited in
Nelson Meers Foundation Heritage Collection - April - November 2009
Digital order no.
a1528359
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