Tom Roberts' Bailed Up

Is art good history?

We often use art as evidence of what happened in the past. Is art good evidence for a historian? Look at the two representations on bushranging in Australia and decide on the strengths and weaknesses of each as historical evidence.

1. Look at Tom Roberts' Bailed Up, and assuming that it is the only evidence you have of bushranging, identify the main features of that activity.

For example, you might decide from the painting that it was a very sedate and calm act.

Identify as many features as you can.

Illustration: Bushrangers — Hall, Gilbert and Dunn
'Ten years ago' an every day scene. Sticking up the mail at Black Springs, Illustrated Melbourne Post, 25 January 1865
National Library of Australia.

2. Now look at this representation of bushrangers holding up a mail coach.

Compare the image created by this representation compared with that of Tom Roberts' Bailed Up.

3. How can you explain the differences between the two representations? Consider such things as the date, the audience, etc. in coming up with your explanation