Colonial Colour – Discovering Australia’s Heidelberg Artists Through Picture Study

Step into the golden paddocks, gum-lined hills, and bustling streets of late 19th-century Australia with Colonial Colour, a rich and accessible art appreciation course for home learning.

Inspired by the Charlotte Mason method of picture study, this resource invites students to slow down, observe closely, and connect deeply with works that helped shape Australia’s artistic identity.

Featuring 16 carefully chosen paintings by Frederick McCubbin, Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, Jane Sutherland, and Charles Conder, each lesson guides students through quiet observation, narration, and thoughtful discussion. These artists, known collectively as the Heidelberg School, captured the light, colour, and character of a young nation in formation, from sunlit landscapes to scenes of daily life.

This resource is also included in our Art Appreciation Course as a convenient PDF. When you join as a course member, you’ll unlock free access to all of our art appreciation courses.

Whether you’re teaching at home or enriching a school curriculum, Colonial Colour offers a warm, engaging introduction to Australia’s first great art movement and the enduring beauty of its vision.