In the same year that Tom Roberts painted this countryside scene of Darebin Creek on the outskirts of Melbourne,he had returned to Australia from studies and travel in Europe and England. Roberts had absorbed the plein-airapproach to painting, a technique of sketching in paint directly from nature. He wanted to connect with the natural world, to capture in paint the sensation of momentary light and colour. He considered this sketch to be a finished work, a picture of the moment for the moment. While Roberts continued to work on other paintings in his studio, his plein-air approach in this and subsequent paintings was a significant departure from the conventional technique of making drawings and sketches outside and returning to the studio to paint the ¡®finished¡¯ scene. Title A quiet day on Darebin Creek Creator Tom ROBERTS Creator Lifespan 09 March 1856 - 14-Sep-31 Creator Death Place Kallista, Victoria, Australia Creator Birth Place Dorchester, England Date Created 1885 Location Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Physical Dimensions w348 x h264 cm Type Painting,oil on wood panel Rights Purchased 1969
