Bendigo Art Gallery Collection

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From humble beginnings as a small, single-roomed space to Australia’s largest regional gallery, Bendigo Art Gallery’s founding motto, Ad delectationem Populi per Artem Pulchram: ‘For the delight of the people through beautiful art’, still resonates today.   

The Gallery was established in 1887 by the colonists of Sandhurst, as Bendigo was known until 1891, with a few donated works and pieces lent by private citizens, to encourage an appreciation of Western art in a space that reflected their European values and way of life. From the outset, British, European and Australian narrative and genre paintings, landscapes, portraits and still life works were sought after, supported by numerous benefactors providing assistance in many forms. This room showcases the breadth of the historic paintings collection, including the Gallery’s first acquisition, Pall Mall from Bull Street by Wed Stuart (1826–1873), and many others beloved by visitors. Bendigo Art Gallery’s collection now comprises close to 5000 works across diverse media, spanning the mid-18th century through to today.  
 

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More information on select artworks in the exhibition:

II Palazzo Ducale visto dal mare

The Arab Blacksmith

Gallery map

Locate For the delight of the people: the origins of Bendigo Art Gallery’s collection on our Gallery map.