Lot 1786

Description

Painting, 'Little Lon' Life in Little Lonsdale Street, a watercolour by Philip J.Gray, 70cm x 52cm, framed and glazed (98cm x 81cm), signed lower left.

Viewed from the intersection of Russell and Little Lonsdale Streets, the artist has based his painting on actual photographs from the period 1850-1860, and brought it to life with figures which typified the activities of this once notorious precinct in old Melbourne. On the left corner is the Old Governor Bourke Hotel. Little Lonsdale Street, or 'Little Lon' as it was known, was visited by people from all walks of life. Politicians rubbed shoulders with sailors and soldiers and many other types. Ladies entertained men of all social status, the brothels and boarding houses were famous, not least for being implicit in the disappearance of the Golden Mace from State Parliament, to this day unexplained.

Caroline Hodgson, aka Madame Brussells was one such figure of notoriety in the 1870s, her establishment enjoyed the patronage of many powerful and influential figures who enjoyed the company of her 'Flash Girls'. We ought not forget the ordinary folk, the tradesmen, shopkeepers and the penniless who through poverty shared an existence in this extraordinary place.