Martens' account book lists the sale of this painting to Sir Charles Nicholson for 20 guineas on 14 August 1861 as 'View from Mr Berrys'. [Mitchell Library ZDL MS143, f.15]. The finished watercolour derives from a pencil drawing, also titled 'View from Mr Berrys' and inscribed by the artist 'Painted for Sir Chas. Nicholson', and now in the Dixson Library collection of the State Library of NSW [ ZDL PXX 11, f.14]
The painting is in a contemporary gilded frame with single raised outer banding and wooden backing board, by Edwin Baldwin of Sydney. Printed paper framer's label 'E. Baldwin, Carver, Gilder, looking Glass and Picture Frame Maker, No.2, late 22 Hunter Street. Maps and Charts Strained and Varnished. Old Frames re-gilt and Repaired'. Baldwin worked in Sydney in the 1850s and 1860s and was Martens's main picture frame supplier at this time. [ref: Elizabeth Ellis
Conrad Martens: life & art 1994]
This view of Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River taken from the grounds of Alexander Berry's Crows Nest House looks towards Cockatoo Island with the Blue Mountains forming the horizon line.
Crow's Nest House was built for Scottish-born merchant Alexander Berry (1781-1873) in 1850. Berry settled in NSW in 1819 when he formed a business partnership with Edward Wollstonecraft (1783-1832). It was Wollstonecraft who secured an initial grant of 500 acres of land on the North Shore where, according to Berry's reminiscences, Wollstonecraft built a small cottage called 'Crow's Nest', on account of its elevated and commanding position. [MM March 2006]
