When Arthur Streeton was on a rural NSW painting trip and wanted to make a gesture of thanks to a genial publican, the brilliant young artist painted the man’s hotel in vibrant watercolours.
Fred Draper, of the Commercial Hotel in Mittagong, obviously shared a drink and a game of pool with the artist. On the back of his picture, probably done in November 1892, Streeton sketched a schnapps bottle, a pipe and some billiard cues, and scribbled some encouraging banter.
