Australia Felix: Landscapes by Jeffrey Makin

This spectacular book traces the career of an inveterate landscape artist who takes pride in continuing a specific painting tradition that dates from Chinese antiquity and sixteenth century Europe before its introduction to Australia. He paints plein air, setting up his easel in favoured locations - particularly near waterfalls or from vantage points that offer views of mountain ranges or fertile valleys. His aim is to evoke in the painting a sense of genius loci, or spirit of place. In doing so, he proudly offers the viewer landscape vistas and images of unique geographic features that Australians and tourists to this country will want to visit. Dr Christopher Heathcote's scholarly essay provides a history of landscape painting and positions the artist within it.