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Artist
Charles Alphonse Doudiet
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Born
1832
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Died
1913
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Title
Swearing allegiance to the "Southern Cross"
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Date of Production
1854
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Medium
watercolour, pen and ink on paper
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Dimensions
167 x 232 mm
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Credit Details
Purchased by the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery with the assistance of many donors, 1996
Charles Alphonse Doudiet
Swearing allegiance to the "Southern Cross"
Swearing allegiance to the flag is one of a series of
watercolours from Australian Sketches - Life on the
Goldfields, a sketch book by Canadian Charles Doudiet
recording life on the diggings, and the only known visual document
to be made by someone present at the Eureka Stockade. Doudiet wrote
of this scene that captures the meeting at Bakery Hill when the
Eureka flag was raised for the first time on 28 November 1852:
"The Oath"
Thus - in sight of the Ballarat Camp - did ten thousand men
raise the azure folds of the 'Southern Cross' and on bended knee
swore to defend it. The leader, the brave Lalor who on the
Eureka received seven balls yet lived - he stands on the stump -
There is Vern in a red shirt - on whose head a prize of £300 was
set 'dead or alive'. Black the 'Diggers Advocate' the
unfortunate Ross - basely murdered by a mounted trooper after he
had surrendered - and other leaders too besides they swore…"
And to this Doudiet has added the following footnote:
"Joyce, Penny and Fletcher with myself carried Ross to the Star
where he died of great pain about 2.00am on the 5th".
Purchased by the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery with the assistance
of many donors, 1996
Principal Donors: Victorian Government through the Community
Support Fund, Pam Davies, Eureka Stockade Memorial Committee of
Management, Blair Ritchie, Rotary Club of Ballarat South, Wendouree
Charitable Fund
Major Donors: Commercial Union Assurance Co., Janet Cowles, Bob
& Emma House, Rex Irwin Art Dealer, Mabs Taylor, Peter Tobin,
Voi & John Williams
* plus 80 donors from the community
Trevor Abraham (VIC), Eileen Anderson (VIC), Anonymous (VIC),
Anonymous (VIC), Anonymous (VIC), Anonymous (VIC), Anonymous (VIC),
Sandra Armstrong (VIC), John Backhuys-Toorenburg (VIC), Jean &
Norm Baker (VIC), Ballarat Ceramic Group (VIC), Ballarat Fine Art
Gallery Association (VIC), Ballarat High School, Student
Representative Council (VIC), Rosemary Barnett (VIC), Trevor
Barnett (VIC), Anne Beggs Sunter (VIC), Greg & Genny Binns
(VIC), Dulcie Brooke (VIC), Dr Joseph Brown (VIC), Mary Brown
(VIC), Malcolm Callaway (VIC), Mable Carey (VIC), Elizabeth
Carvasso (VIC), Bob & Heather Christie (VIC), Tom Cockram
(VIC), Dr.D.Cook (VIC), The Hon.Richard de Fegely MLC (VIC), Glenda
& Ed Dunens (VIC), Lady Ebury (VIC), Robert Edwards (NSW),
Lorraine Elliott MLA (VIC), Eureka Blinds & Curtains (VIC),
Eureka Tiles (VIC), Dawn Evans (VIC), Nancy & Bob Evans (VIC),
Tom Evans (VIC), Vashti Farrer (NSW), Mr & Mrs H.Fowler (VIC),
Jan & Lauris Golding (VIC), Gwen Graham (VIC), Mr & Mrs
K.Greenfield (VIC), Joan Cresswell (VIC), Jacqueline Hall (VIC),
Jill Harding (VIC), Dr & Mrs C.Haughton (VIC), Carol Heath
(VIC), John & Gwen Heinz (VIC), Joan Henty (VIC), Mr
R.Hutchison (ACT), Heather Irwin (VIC), Chris Jamison-Jones (VIC),
Ms A.Jenkins (VIC), Jens-Gaunt Real Estate Pty Ltd (VIC), Mrs
W.Johnson (VIC), C.V.Jones Antiques & Art Gallery (VIC), Miss
Clarice Jones (VIC), Jeanne & David Karmouche (VIC), Peter
Lambert Design (VIC), Ann Marie & Frank Lean (VIC), Shirley
& Derick Leather (VIC), Lions Club of Ballarat (VIC), Alistair
Lowne (VIC), Macarthur Gallery (VIC), Mrs L.MacKenzie (NSW), Ekke
Martini (VIC), Mason's Cafe - Catering (VIC), Jane & Ian Mayes
(VIC), F.W.McCoan (VIC), Mary McGowan (VIC), Mrs M.McNulty (VIC),
Joy McRae (VIC), Neil Mitchell (VIC), Athel Molesworth (NSW), Topsy
Nevett (VIC), Ron Nichols (VIC), Mr G.& Mrs J.O'Hagen (VIC),
Jim O'May (VIC), Geoff & Nola Oliver (VIC), Robert & Dianne
Olston (VIC), In memory of Charles Phillips (VIC), N.&
R.Phillips (VIC), Shirley Porter (VIC), Beatrice & Greville
Prideaux (VIC), James Pryor (VIC), Russell Reid (VIC), Hazel Rich
(VIC), Margaret Rich (VIC), G.& M.Robertson (VIC), Nancy Rowe
(VIC), Mrs W.Sarah (VIC), Jessie Scott (VIC), Mr G.Shepherd (VIC),
Bruce Sidebottom (VIC), Mike Stephens & Associates (VIC), John
Stringer (WA), In memory of William Styles family (VIC), M.Switz
(VIC), Frank & Verity Taylor (TAS), Timbeck Charitable Trust
(VIC), Douglas Walker (VIC), Dr J.& Mrs L.Walker (VIC),
Warrenheip Primary School (VIC), Carolyn Wells (NSW), Jenny Wickham
(VIC), In memory of Mrs Hazel Williams (VIC), Jean Willis (VIC),
Woodend Lions Club (VIC)