Departure of the Orient, Circular Quay

Rain falls over a busy harbor dock, where sailing ships and rowing boats crowd the water near Circular Quay. Along the wet pavement a mass of figures huddle under open umbrellas, moving past the colonial buildings lining the shore. The scene captures a damp, bustling moment of departure, with the Orient steamer among the vessels gathered at the quay. Charles Conder painted this oil work in 1888, and it is held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, which acquired it that same year through purchase. Conder, who lived from 1868 to 1909 and worked as a painter with ties to Australia and the United Kingdom, is also known for his picture A holiday at Mentone. One detail worth noticing is how the many umbrellas form a rippling pattern across the crowd, echoing the choppy water beyond the dock.