Symbol of the River

The Murray Cod is not just the river's biggest fish, but a symbol of the Murray itself. The settler community soon learnt the fish's value, and a lucrative industry was rapidly established.

It is not clear if Frederick McCoy ever travelled to the Murray River, however his artists were directed to illustrate species from the area. Ludwig Becker, Frederick Schoenfeld and Arthur Bartholomew each depicted the Murray Cod, with the various styles of their drawings revealing much about their personalities.

Becker's lively hand and inquisitive mind resulted in an iconic image, almost a caricature of the voracious feeder described by McCoy. Schoenfeld's light outline almost dissolves into a cryptic pattern of mottled greens and greys - a melancholic portrayal conveying a precarious state of mind. In contrast, Bartholomew's cool and careful observation of a small specimen gave away nothing; as always he was dedicated to the creation of a useful image.