Adagio 1899

Tom Roberts made this painting, "Adagio," using oil on canvas. He was an Australian artist associated with the Heidelberg School, sometimes described as Australian Impressionism. Roberts’ artistic training in Melbourne and London situated him within a culture that valorized European art. However, "Adagio" reflects a distinctively Australian sensibility through its landscape setting, bathed in the warm hues of an outback sunset. The woman playing her violin seems to be integrated into the Australian landscape. The Art Gallery of New South Wales, where this painting is located, played a crucial role in shaping Australian art tastes during Roberts’ lifetime. By studying exhibition records and critical reviews from the period, we can understand how Roberts and his contemporaries negotiated their identities as Australian artists in relation to international trends. It's always important to consider an artwork's setting, and to research how cultural institutions have impacted the artist's social environment.