Sydney from Bell Mount1813

by Stephen Taylor

Stephen Taylor worked in England from 1807 to 1849 and produced this early depiction of Sydney Harbour in 1813, despite never having visited Australia. The view is from a high point behind Vaucluse and looks up the Harbour towards a distant Sydney, whose windmills pierce the skyline. Bell Mount appears to be an unrecorded name once associated with Vaucluse.

The painting is closely based on a print of the same view, which was published in London a year later, in 1814. It is likely that the source of both these works were drawings by Sydney-based convict and topographical artist, John Eyre. This view of Sydney from Vaucluse was a favourite with many colonial artists.