Twilight memories, Meroogal
Jan Latta

1998
oil on canvas
59 x 78 cm image, 75 x 94 cm framed

Description
Framed oil on canvas painting of an imagined scene from the late 19th century. The house and inhabitants of Meroogal are vividly depicted at the moment of the sun setting. Latta has borrowed from the 19th-century luminist style to accentuate the sunset and light spilling from the windows. The work is mounted in a gilt and wood frame. Painted in black oil paint lower right corner: ‘Jan Latta’.

Significance statement  
Jan Latta was awarded first prize in the 1998 Meroogal Women’s Art Prize for her painting Twilight memories, Meroogal. The regional prize was established by the Historic Houses Trust (HHT) in 1998 to maintain a continuing link between today’s women of the south coast and southern highlands of NSW and its heritage property, Meroogal. The inaugural theme was An artistic response to Meroogal and the women who lived there. Latta described her picture as:

‘Having a fairy tale aspect to it. It is very colourful with an exaggerated sunset and glowing light from the windows. Meroogal’s house, garden and orchard becomes a man-made jewel in the Australian landscape with bush all around.’

History
Jan Latta created this painting for entry in the 1998 Meroogal Women’s Art Prize. The HHT purchased the work from the artist in 1998.

Maker biography
For over 25 years Jan Latta has painted the ocean and the natural world in diverse locations such as Australia, Ireland, Hawaii and Canada. The success of her seascapes is due to a lifelong study of the movement of the ocean and waves. Latta often uses radiant light, a tradition derived from the 19th-century luminist style of painting, to accentuate and suffuse her works with light. In recent years Latta has painted built environments, recording the character of the building, its inhabitants and place in the community. 

Museum number
HHT2001/3

Image credit
Jenni Carter

Bibliography  
‘Passions’, Sydney Morning Herald, 7 January 2005, p26
Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, ‘1998 Meroogal Women’s Art Prize’, Insites, No 18, Autumn 1999, p13
Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, ‘Women’s Art’, Insites, No 45, Summer 2005, pp6–7
Hughes, Joy & Walker, Meredith, Meroogal, Nowra: a history and a guide, Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, Glebe, 1988
Ramsay, Janet K, The women of Meroogal, Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, Glebe, 1988