Art galleries are a popular place to visit in Summer.  To preserve the paintings the climate-controlled environment and low lighting can be quite soothing.  Looking at a lot of different artworks, however, can be overwhelming so I like to see what few pieces come to my attention and what story they tell.  And I found a wonderful Summer story recently at the Art Gallery of Ballarat.  The first part of the story was an easy one.  Nothing says Summer like the dappled light of an E. Phillips Fox painting above, and the idea of sitting or lying in a shady garden reading a book is always appealing.

A Love Story – Emanuel Phillips Fox

But if it’s too hot to go outside perhaps a luminous interior by Grace Cossington Smith is more to your liking, reflecting the vibrant light and colours of Australia.

Interior onto a garden – Grace Cossington Smith

Another painting which speaks of Australian Summers is Bushfire painted by Eugene von Guerard in 1859.

Bushfire – Eugene von Guerard

Whilst David Davies captures the hardship encountered by people on the land in his Under the Burden of the Day from 1890.

Under the burden of the day – David Davies

And finally a sadly prophetic piece painted by Arthur Streeton in 1934 entitled The Vanishing Forest.

The vanishing forest – Arthur Streeton