"This comprehensive survey uniquely covers both Aboriginal art and that of European Australians, providing a revealing examination of the interaction between the two. Painting, photography, bark painting, rock art, sculpture, and the decorative arts are all explored to display the rich texture of Australian art traditions." "Well-known artists such as Margaret Preston, Rover Thomas, and Sidney Nolan are all discussed, as are the natural history illustrators, Aboriginal draughtsmen, and pastellists, whose work is only now being brought to light by new research. Taking the European colonization of the continent in 1788 as his starting point, Sayers integrates important issues concerning colonial art and women artists into this fascinating new story of Australian art."--BOOK JACKET.