The exhibition's name references the dimensions of most of the paintings (9 x 5 inches), which were painted en plein air on cigar box lids supplied by
Louis Abrahams, a patron of the Heidelberg School and owner of the Melbourne cigar business
Sniders & Abrahams.[1] In staging the exhibition, the artists sought to introduce the Melbourne public to
impressionist painting, and in doing so established themselves as the vanguard of
Australian art. The works, together with the artists' overall arrangement of the exhibition space, reflected several concurrent styles and movements, including
Japonisme,
aestheticism and
symbolism, with
James McNeill Whistler being a particularly strong influence.
The majority of the 9 by 5s were painted over the autumn and winter of 1889, which comes through in the tones and weather effects of many of the landscapes. The rural suburb of
Heidelberg, where Streeton had established an artists' camp the previous year, is featured in many of the works. Melbourne's urban life and culture are also depicted, with landmarks such as
Princess Theatre, the
Old Treasury and the
Burke and Wills statue making appearances, as well as
the city's trams and games of
Australian rules football.
The exhibition created much lively commentary at the time and is now seen as a "celebrated event in Australian art history".[1] 9 by 5s continue to appear on the market; in 2019, Roberts' She-Oak and Sunlight sold at
Sotheby's for
A$770,000, and was acquired by the
National Gallery of Victoria.[2] In 2012, to mark the 123rd anniversary of the exhibition, arts benefactor
Max Carter donated four 9 by 5s (valued at over A$3,000,000) to the
Art Gallery of South Australia, the largest group of 9 by 5s ever given to an Australian public institution.[3]
Gallery of 9 by 5s
Charles Conder
A Dream of Handel's Largo, 1889, Art Gallery of South Australia
All on a summer's day, 1888, National Gallery of Australia
An Impressionist (Tom Roberts), 1889, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Arcadia, 1889, private collection
Centennial Choir at Sorrento, 1889, private collection
A Road to the Ranges, 1889, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Princess & Burke & Wills, 1889, National Gallery of Victoria
Residence of J. Walker, Esq.,
Gembrook, 1888, National Gallery of Victoria
Sandridge, 1888, National Gallery of Australia
Windy and Wet, 1889, National Gallery of Victoria
References
^
ab"9 by 5 Impression Exhibition". Australian Impressionism. Melbourne: National Gallery of Victoria.
Archived from the original on 9 April 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2010.