Topic

This playbill, or poster, advertising a theatrical performance at the ‘Theatre, Sydney’ on 30 July 1796, is the oldest surviving printed document produced in Australia.

The National Library incorporates major works of art that have become closely associated with the building.

Wendy Cooper

Thanks to a gift from the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation, we are digitising performing arts material from our incredible collection.

There’s no business like show business, and this exhibition brings Australia’s performing arts history into the limelight.

The Special Collections Reading Room houses art relating to Australian history and culture in the post-colonial era, focusing on modern Australian people and places.

The National Library has a large collection of sculptures built into and around the building, and beautiful tapestries hanging in our foyer.

Topic

Within the Treasures Gallery in the Library hangs a large oil painting in a gilded frame. The artwork was painted in 1781 by British artist George Carter (1737–1795). It is titled Death of Captain Cook.

Module

This resource is aligned with the Australian Curriculum: Visual Arts for Year 9 and 10 students. It adopts an inquiry approach to develop students’ skills as art historians.

For the next 4 weeks, the Library is one of 20 locations hosting contemporary mixed media artworks as part of the Canberra Art Biennial.