Showing 89 items matching " composition frame"
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Benalla Art Gallery
Drawing, Louis BUVELOT, Melbourne Kew (Yarra Glen), 1869
Born: Morges, Vaud, Switzerland 1814; Lived and worked: Brazil 1835-1852; Arrived: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1865; Died: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1888ColonialLedger Gift, 1987Rural landscape with two animals beside a track leading towards buildings and outbuildings surrounded by trees with hills in distance. Timber frame.Recto: Signed "Louis Buvelot" in grey pencil in l.l.c of composition; Titled and dated 'Melbourne Kew 1869' in grey pencil in lower centre of compositiondrawing, landscape, figures, trees, colonial, road, animals -
Benalla Art Gallery
Painting, Frederick MCCUBBIN, The artist's home, South Yarra, Not dated
Born: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1855; Died: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1917Heidelberg SchoolLedger Gift, 1987House on top of hill in rural landscape with sloping hill to a pond and trees and grasses in foreground. Copper brushed timber frame.Recto: Signed "F. McCubbin" in brown oil in l.r.c of composition; Not dated; Not titledpainting, waterscape, hills, house, landscape, water, impressionist -
Benalla Art Gallery
Drawing, Iso RAE, The Canadian Field Hospital, Etaple, 1918
Born: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1860; Lived and worked: France 1887-1932, England 1932-1940; Died: Brighton, Sussex, England 1940World War IGift of Mrs E.E. Ledger, 1987Drawing depicting a field hospital with tents and trees lining a snowy field and figures working at sunrise. Limed timber gallery frame with white window mountRecto: Signed, titled and dated 'ISO RAE / ETAPLES Jan 1918 – Tents no I Can. Hos. / fire buckets" in grey pencil in l.l.c of compositiondrawing, landscape, figures, trees, structures, tents, sunrise -
Benalla Art Gallery
Watercolour, H. L. VAN DEN HOUTEN, Settler's hut, Not dated
Born: The Hague, Netherlands 1801; Arrived: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1853; Died: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1879ColonialGift of Mrs E.E. Ledger, 1987Watercolour depicting a rural landscape with a settler's hut and figures standing in a cleared paddock. Gold and grey brushed timber frame with off white window mountRecto: Signed "H L Van den Houten" in brown watercolour in l.r.c of composition; Not dated; Not titledwatercolour, landscape, house, figures, path, fence, building, hills -
Benalla Art Gallery
Watercolour, Nicholas CHEVALIER, Pontina, Funchal Bay, Madeira, Not dated
Born: St Petersurg, Russia 1828; Arrived: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1854; Lived and worked: Switzerland 1845-1848, Germany 1851-1854, Australia 1854-1865, New Zealand 1865-1866, England 1870-1902; Died: London, Middlesex, England 1902VictorianLedger Gift, 1988Watercolour depicting a walled city at the foothills of the Madeira mountains. Gold brushed timber frame with off white window mountRecto: Signed "N.Chevalier." in grey watercolour in l.r.c of composition; Not dated; Not titledwatercolour, streetscape, buildings, animals, mountains, roads, river, structures, castle -
Benalla Art Gallery
Watercolour, George LACY, Hold up, Not dated
Born: London, Middlesex, England c.1817; Arrived: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 1842; Died: Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia 1878ColonialLedger Bequest, 1993Watercolour with ink, depcicting two men being robbed at gunpoint in the bush. Immitation timber frame with black painted edge, gold brushed internal window edge, and off white window mountRecto: Signed "G.L." in grey watercolour in l.r.c of composition; Narrative as part of work, '"How much have you” – “only 2 ounces” – “2 ounces?!! You lazy rascal, after 6 months at the diggings if you don’t find more than that I’ll knock you into the middle of next week”' written in grey watercolour across the lower edge of the composition; Not dated; Not titledwatercolour, figures, animals, trees, gun, horse, theif -
Benalla Art Gallery
Painting, John Ford PATERSON, Miner’s cottage, 1884
Born: Dundee, Forfarshire,Scotland 1851; Arrived: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1872; Lived and worked: Scotland 1875-1884; Died: Carlton, Victoria, Australia 1912VictorianLedger Bequest, 1993Oil on canvas on composition board, depicting a rural landscape and miner's commune off a dirt road. Gold brushed timber frame with decorative gesso edges and corners Recto: Signed and dated “J FORD PATERSON / 1884” in blue oil in l.r.c of composition; Not titledpainting, landscape, house, trees, path, road -
Benalla Art Gallery
Watercolour, Ellis ROWAN, Butterflies and flowers, Not dated
Born: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1848; Lived and worked: New Zealand 1866-1877, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States 1892-1905; Papua New Guinea 1916 and 1918; Died: Macedon, Victoria, Australia 1922VictorianLedger Bequest, 1993Watercolour and gouache on paper depicting pink flowers and yellow butterflies in a sparse field. Gold brushed timber frame with off white window mountRecto: Signed "Ellis Rowan" in red watercolour in l.l.c of composition; Not dated; Not titledwatercolour, landscape, flowers, sky, clouds, trees, butterflies -
Benalla Art Gallery
Painting, E. Phillips FOX, Spring blossoms, Not dated
Born: Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia 1865; Lived and worked: France and England 1887-1892, France 1901-1913; Died: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1915ImpressionismMajor Basil MacNay Bequest, Gift of Arts Victoria, 1998Oil on wood panel depicting pink spring blossoms in a field. Carved gold brushed timber frameRecto: Signed "E. Phillips Fox" in purple oil in l.l.c of composition; Not dated; Not titledpaiting, landscape, garden, trees, cherry blossom, fence, impressionist -
Robin Boyd Foundation
Painting, Donald Laycock, Sketch for Terra Australis, 1969
This oil sketch by Donald Laycock is for "Terra Australis", a large (20' X 8') outback desert scene commissioned by Robin Boyd for the Australian Pavilion at Expo 1970. Robin Boyd was the Exhibit Architect of the Australian Pavilions at Expo '70 in Osaka and Expo '67 in Montreal. It is not known what happened to "Terra Australis" after Expo '70.Red toned abstract composition."DL 69" in bottom right corner. Sketch for Terra Australis Exhibition '70" written on canvas around the frame on the rear.donald laycock, expo 70, osaka, robin boyd, walsh st artwork, ohm2022, ohm2022_32 -
Chiltern Athenaeum Trust
Painting - Artwork, Fanny Bartley, Bartley's Brewery
Bartley's Brewery, Howlong Road, Chiltern (photograph of a painting by Fanny Bartley) Property owned by Benjaming Jackson Bartley 1834-1899Australian Impressionism, Naturalism, Colonial Art, Folk ArtA small, rectangular painting with a wood frame in a basic relief styleSignature in bottom right corner of paintingaustralian landscape, landscape, farm -
Parliament of Victoria
Portrait of Queen Victoria, Winterhalter, Franz Xaver (After), Queen Victoria, after Winterhalter, c.1859
Queen Victoria’s appreciation of German artist Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1805-1873) began after she saw portraits by him of other European monarchs. Accordingly, between 1842 and 1861 he made fifteen visits to England and painted over 100 portraits of Her Majesty, the royal family and other friends and dignitaries. In 1843 Winterhalter was commissioned to paint matching portraits of Queen Victoria and Albert, the Prince Consort. These originals hang in the Garter Throne Room at Windsor Castle and are part of the UK Royal Collection. Many legitimate copies of Winterhalter’s portrait were produced and presented to the Parliaments of the British Empire, including the Parliament of Victoria. Such copies are referred to as “After F. X. Winterhalter” and artists responsible include William Corden and John Prescott Knight. When creating copies, artists were not restricted by the size of the original portrait. Walterhalter’s original is 2.7m x 1.7m whereas copies can reach an impressive 4.5 metres in height. The portrait that hangs in Queens Hall at the Parliament of Victoria is not signed. Comparison with other copies of the work suggest that the Parliament’s painting may have been completed by William Corden. The Government Art Collection (United Kingdom), has a Queen Victoria copy in their collection and Parliament’s portrait has similar traits. A copy by John Prescott Knight which hangs in the Legislative Council in the Parliament of Tasmania is quite different, particularly with reference to the shape of the young Queen’s face, which is rounder in the Corden portraits.This portrait of Queen Victoria was presented as a gift by the British Government to the Parliament of Victoria in April 1860. Painted on fine linen supplied under Royal Warrant by the workshop Winsor and Newton, London, the frame has been embellished with elaborate wooden carvings. Framed portrait, oil on linen, of Queen Victoria. Victoria is posed in front of a curtain partially obscuring a building (possibly Buckingham Palace) in the background. Timber frame with a layer of gesso and decorative composition ornaments. There are rose, scotch thistle, clover leaf and Acanthus ornaments. A carved wood and composition element crown, resting on a tassled pillow sits on top of the frame.Canvas unsigned. Verso printed: ‘WINSOR AND NEWTON / Rathbone Place, London’. Embossed stamp into stretcher wood, stamped ‘Winsor and Newton’ in black ink.victoria queen of great britain, 1819-1901, winterhalter, franz xaver, 1805-1873, corden, william, queens hall, parliament of victoria -
Parliament of Victoria
Portrait of Prince Albert, Coutts, Gordon 1865-1938 et al, Prince Albert, after Winterhalter, 1896
In 1895 artist Gordon Coutts was commissioned by Elizabeth Harding (Mrs. Silas Harding), a wealthy pastoralist, to paint this portrait of Prince Albert. The portrait was completed by 1896 and is a copy of an original by German artist Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1805-1873). In 1843 Winterhalter was commissioned to paint matching portraits of Queen Victoria and Albert, the Prince Consort. These originals hang in the Garter Throne Room at Windsor Castle and are part of the UK Royal Collection. Queen Victoria’s appreciation of Winterhalter began after she saw portraits by him of other European monarchs. Accordingly, between 1842 and 1861 he made fifteen visits to England and painted over 100 portraits of Her Majesty, the royal family and other friends and dignitaries. There are a number of notable differences in the original Winterhalter work and this painting. The local artist Coutts has changed the colour of the Prince’s cloak from deep blue/black to red (perhaps as a result of working from a black and white photograph). Other differences include extra satin shoulder ribbons, a simplification of the furnishings, notably the floor, and an inexact representation of the medallions worn; collars of the Order of the Garter, Bath, and the Golden Fleece. The painting is framed to match the official copy portrait of Queen Victoria, with the coat of arms of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, fixed atop the frame in place of the royal crown.Framed portrait, oil on cotton, of Prince Albert. The Prince Consort wears the robes of the Order of the Garter, holds a Field-Marshal’s baton, and is posed in front of a curtain and colonnade. Timber frame with a layer of gesso and decorative composition ornaments. There are rose, scotch thistle, clover leaf and Acanthus ornaments. The coat of arms that sits on top of the frame is a combination of carved timber and composition elements.Signed lower right corner in red brushpoint: ‘after Winterhalter / By Gordon Coutts / 1896’.albert, prince consort of victoria, queen of great britain, 1819-1861, winterhalter, franz xaver, 1805-1873, coutts, gordon (1865-1938) -
Tennis Australia
Racquet, Circa 1977
A Spalding 'Natural' Specialist Frame tennis racquet, with wood grain finish on lower half of head and along edge of shaft and head; leather handle grip printed with manufacturer name; and, plastic butt cap featuring 'S' logo. Model name features along base of head. Manufacturer's 'S' logo appears on lower shaft. Inscription on side outlines the wood & fibre composition of racquet. Materials: Wood, Glue, Metal, Lacquer, Nylon, Leather, Ink, Plastic, Adhesive tape, Fibretennis -
Tennis Australia
Cards, Circa 1975
A framed set of four reproduction cards of paintings by (appears to be) Hubert Schmidt. Each card mount with (purportedly) artist's signature below. Artist's signatures difficult to decipher and handwritten signatures appear questionable. Each painting reproduction depicts a post-Cubist style composition with a tennis racquet (or tennis net)and ball. Framed under UV glass. Materials: Ink, Wood, Metal, Cardboard, Glass, Painttennis -
Tennis Australia
Print, 1886
Double page spread from 'The Graphic' newspaper of Summer 1886 entitled 'ALL ABOUT OUR LAWN-TENNIS CLUB'. A cartoon style composition by Arthur Hopkins narrating the story of a club establishing their courts on rough country fields. Framed under UV glass. Materials: Ink, Paper, Glass, Metal, Woodtennis -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Furniture - Hand embroidered fire screen, 1900-1910
This hand embroidered fire screen was embroidered by Winifred Caroline Henty Hindson (1887–1967), Elsie May Eliza Hindson (1880–1968) and Louisa (Louie) Charlotte Frances Hindson (1885–1963) three of the daughters of Alice Henty and John Hindson. Their grandfather, Francis Henty, was the youngest son of Thomas Henty, who with his family, their retainers and property moved to the Australian colonies between 1829 and 1832. In 1834, Francis’ older brother, Edward, sailed from Launceston in Van Diemen’s Land to what was to become Portland in the western part of Port Phillip District [Victoria]. Francis, together with the first flock of Merino sheep [in Victoria], followed some months later. The first and second generations of the Henty family established vast pastoral properties in the Western part of the Port Phillip District. Francis Henty managed ‘Merino Downs’ near Casterton, while also living in his retirement at ‘Field Place' in Kew.The Henty Collection of nineteenth and twentieth century clothing, including outerwear and underwear, was collected, stored and exhibited over time by female family members descended from Francis and Mary Ann Henty. During the twentieth century, items from the collection were modelled in two fashion parades by various descendants [1937, 1959]. The items in the collection are historically and aesthetically significant, with provenance provided by oral and written tradition within or held by the family. A number of the items in the collection are very rare survivors, and provide researchers with the evidence needed to reconstruct the lives of notable women in the Port Phillip District [later Victoria] during the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Multicoloured silk embroidered floral composition on a black fabric background created by Louisa, Elsie and Winifred Hindson. The embroidery is held behind glass and is protected by blackened wood at the back. The screen is suspended in an ebonized and gilded frame with two rows of spindle decoration. fire screens, women's work, embroidery - 20th century, elsie hindson, louisa hindson, winifred hindson -
The Dunmoochin Foundation
Oil Painting, Death of a Wombat, 1989
Painting depicting an abstract composition with wombat and lizard. Signed and dated lower right 'Clifton 72/89'. Inscribed on reverse in pink chalk '57' and on frame 'No.2'. clifton pugh, painting, abstract, wombat, lizard, landscape -
Federation University Art Collection
Painting - Oil on Composition Board, Neville Bunning, 'Speed' by Neville Bunning
This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2nevill000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.A small framed painting of a horse and rider galloping in front of a stormy sky.art, artwork, neville bunning, horse, animal, available -
Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Photograph - Photograph, reproduction, Ebenezer James, Chaplain Mission to Seamen 1886 - 1901, 2016
see makers comments above. Rev James was also Chaplain to the Naval Forces of Victoria until the time of Federation. The article featured in the Port Gazette seems to be a profile of James and his works and headline being: "Jack's Friend" Rev Ebenezer James one of the early Chaplains based at the Mission to Seafarers. He ministered to and advocated on behalf of the seagoing fraternity both merchant and Naval forces and was an instrumental force in the stamping out of the practice of crimping and the exploitation of seafarers. He received and forwarded the letter from 22 sea captains (MTSV 0030 requesting the establishment of a Mission in the vicinity of the Australian Wharf. James' brother was an MLC and his daughter Britomarte is also noted with an entry in the ADB. The original clipping image of James is the only known existing image.Black and white gloss print photograph of 19th Century bearded man ; new wood frame, cream window mount ; glazed with perspex, composition back board. This photograph is a reproduction of an image found on a scrapbook clipping taken from and originally published in the Port Gazette of July 25th 1896. Verso - Texta inscription catalogue number : MTSV 0707 also 2 Labels on backboard of frame one a barcode and one handwritten "EBENEZER JAMES / CHAPLAIN, MISSION TO SEAMEN (1886 - 1901)ebenezer james, chaplain, jack tar, crimping, missions to seamen, port melbourne -
Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Painting, WW2 AMS (Corvette): HMAS Rockhampton, early 21st Century
From his obituary published in Optometry Australia: Born in 1925 in Swan Hill, his parents were soldier settlers in the Mallee before moving to Melbourne. After obtaining his leaving certificate from Melbourne Grammar, he worked as a laboratory assistant in an explosives factory but later completed a chemistry diploma. He enlisted in the Navy in 1943 aged 17 years and due to a colour vision deficiency, served in the supply branch on HMAS Rockhampton, being discharged aged 21. His deuteranomaly steered him to learn adaptive behaviours while studying optometry, ensuring his clinical practice remained unaffected.According to wikipedia 2017 : Rockhampton began her career as a convoy escort along the east coast of Australia.[1] Following a series of Japanese submarine attacks along the east coast of Australia, a convoy system was established.[1] Rockhampton and USS Selfridge escorted the first Sydney to Brisbane convoy.[1] The corvette remained in this role until January 1944, when she began escorting convoys to and from New Guinea.[1] She underwent refit in Sydney over April and May 1944, before returning to escort duties in New Guinea waters.[1] Rockhampton operated in both Australian and New Guinea waters up until the end of World War II.[1] Following the end of the war, Rockhampton was involved in the rescue of Dutch and Indonesian prisoners-of-war and the occupation of Ambon.[1] On 8 October 1945, the corvette carried the Sultan of Ternate on his return home.[1] Rockhampton returned to Sydney in November 1945, where she was assigned to minesweeping duties off the east coast of Australia.[1] She later participated in survey duties off the coast of South Australia, before returning to Sydney on 29 April 1946.[1] The corvette received two battle honours for her wartime service: "Pacific 1942–45" and "New Guinea 1944"HMAS Rockhampton launched 1941 and de-commissioned 1946. Operated in the Pacific and New Guinea theatres of WW2 see supplementary files for details Maritime ArtJames CockburnAcrylic painting on composition board of a military or armed corvette at sea. Framed with a speckled pale blue painted moulded pine ? frame. The painting is signed on lower right corner and inscribed with both blue and black fibre tipped pen.Front: lwr right corner: "D Cockburn" in pale blue paint ; Verso "WW2 AMS (Corvette): HMAS Rockhampton / PAINTED BY DAVID M COCKBURN FORMER CREW MEMBER / PH DAVE ..."hmas rockhampton, corvette, ww2, merchant navy, world war 2, david cockburn, crew, sailors, seamen, seafarers, optometrist, artwork-paintings, hobbies -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Print, John Neeson, Fire in the Forest, 1973
John Neeson is a Postwar & Contemporary painter who was born in 1948. Numerous key galleries and museums such as Hill Smith Gallery have featured John Neeson's work in the past.Abstract composition in two panels. Left panel shows areas of three shades of grey. Right panel shows areas of grey, red and yellow. The centre image connects both panels with a triangular shape with red patterning, giving an appearance of flame and embers. Mounted in grey matt. In grey wooden frame with glass.Front: 1/25 (lower left) 73 (centre) John Neeson (lower right) (pencil) Back: (no inscriptions) -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Print, Robert Grieve, Composition, 1973
... wood frame with perspex glazing. Composition Print Robert ...UnknownAbstract print. Yellow underlayer with brown layer of ink on top. Darker pigmentation towards the centre of the print. At the top right and bottom centre there are two thin crosses. The entire surface is thickly built up, creating an undulating surface to the image with variation in pigmentation. Mounted in cream matt. Framed in natural wood frame with perspex glazing.Front: Robert Grieve (lower left) Composition (centre) 4-10 73 (lower right) (pencil) -
Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Painting, Jack Woods, Heading to a Safe Port, 2017
This painting, which includes the beautifully crafted wind vane above the historic Mission to Seafarers’ building in Flinders Street, Melbourne, symbolises the safe port for the crew of ships, over the years, that have entered Port Phillip Bay, since the Victorian Mission was established in 1857. The stormy ocean weather for the sailors is contrasted with the calm seas near the Mission.This painting was an entry for the 2017 Maritime Art Prize. Jack's marine art covers a wide spectrum of maritime subjects, but with a focus on paintings of classic yachts that ventured over long distances to remote parts of the world. Maritime art, Marine artDonated by Jack WoodsOil painting on linen covered wooden frame, incorporating several features: from left to right a tanker vessel, a windjammer and the galleon wind vane restored to the roof of the Mission in 2020.safe, jack woods, painting, port, artwork, windjammer, windvane, cargo ship, galleon, weather vane, anl, maritime art prize, artwork-paintings -
Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch
Poster - Framed Poster, c1920
Record of Australia's Voluntary Effort in the Great War (AIF) AUG 4TH 1914 TO JUNE 28TH 1919 During the the First World War General Sir W.R. Birdwood, was Commander of the Australian Imperial Forces and Lieutenant General Sir J. Monash, Commander of the Australian Army Corp. A commemorative colour poster published c.1920 as a record of Australia's voluntary effort in the Great War. The composition is similar to that of an Honour Roll and features a depiction of the rising sun badge within a wreath. Listed are each Australian Division, the Light Horse and the AIF Corps Headquarters. Each is headed with a portrait of the Division's Commanding Officer, and includes depictions of colour patches, followed by principal engagements and a summary of causalities suffered.Carved brown timber framed poster of rising sun, two flags and images of Army Commanding Officers, Awards and Badgesaif, ww1 -
Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch
Poster - Framed Poster, C1920
Record of Australia's Voluntary Effort in the Great War (AIF) AUG 4TH 1914 to JUNE 28TH 1919 During the the First World War General Sir W.R. Birdwood, was Commander of the Australian Imperial Forces and Lieutenant General Sir J. Monash, Commander of the Australian Army Corp.A commemorative colour poster published c.1920 as a record of Australia's voluntary effort in the Great War. The composition is similar to that of an Honour Roll and features a depiction of the rising sun badge within a wreath. Listed are each Australian Division, the Light Horse and the AIF Corps Headquarters. Each is headed with a portrait of the Division's Commanding Officer, and includes depictions of colour patches, followed by principal engagements and a summary of causalities suffered.Carved brown timber framed poster of rising sun, two flags and images of Army Commanding Officers, Awards and Badges Plaque reads ...Presented to Wangaratta RSL by Eric Hamiltonww1, great war, commemorative poster, australia -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Artwork, other - Painting, Neville Touzeau, Eclipse 3, 1972
UnknownAbstract composition of 24 circles, evenly spaced across image. In orange, yellow, brown, green, blue and white, with each alternate circle taking on aspects of the colours beside it. Set in dark blue background. Mounted in dark green matt. In wooden frame with glass glazing.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: "Eclipse 3" Neville Touzeau $40 '72 Touzeau 276 (lower right)(blue pen) Touzeau (black felt pen) Flight IV 50 Touzeau (blue pen, scribbled out in blue felt pen) -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Nail, 1855
The artefact is the lower portion of a rectangular shanked ‘planking nail’ with a straight-edged ‘flat point’. The distinctive ‘point’ of a planking/skirting nail was designed to be driven into timber across the grain in order to prevent the wood from splitting. This relic is from the shipwreck of the SCHOMBERG, which ran aground near Peterborough in 1855. It was retrieved in 1875 from a large section of the ship’s bow which had been carried by ocean currents to the western coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The nail is still fixed in a fragment of the original timber that it secured in the SCHOMBERG. The top portion, or ‘head’ of the nail, has corroded away but the pronounced rectangular shank and its flat point indicate its likely purpose and position on the vessel. Most fastenings used in sailing ship construction were either wooden treenails or copper bolts, which were relatively resistant to seawater corrosion. In addition, the preferred hull-frame timber of British Oak has a high content of gallic acid which rapidly corrodes unprotected iron work. The ferrous composition of this planking nail suggests it came from an internal and upper portion of the ship’s bow (protected from exposure to the sea or oak). According to an 1855 edition of the Aberdeen Journal, the five outer layers, or ‘skins’, of the SCHOMBERG’s pine hull were “combined by means of patent screw treenails”. However the “beams of her two upper decks” were of “malleable iron”, and “part of the forecastle” was “fitted for the accommodation of the crew”. It is therefore possible that iron nails of this description were used by the ship’s builders to secure floor and wall planks in enclosed areas of the crew’s quarters. (The same reasoning would apply to officer and passenger accommodation amidships and at the stern of the vessel, but it was the bow that floated to New.Zealand.) The SCHOMBERG was a 2,000 ton clipper ship, specifically designed for the Australian immigration trade (back-loading wool for Britain’s mills), and constructed in Hall’s shipyard in Aberdeen, Scotland. She was owned by the Black Ball Line and launched in 1855. Alexander Hall & Son were renowned builders of sleek and fast 1,000 ton clippers for the China trade (opium in, tea out) and were keen to show they could also outclass the big North American ships built by Donald Mackay. Consequently the SCHOMBERG was ‘overbuilt’. Her hull featured five ‘skins’ of Scotch Larch and Pitch Pine overlaying each other in a diagonal pattern against a stout frame of British Oak. Oak has been favoured by builders of wooden ships for centuries. Its close, dense grain made it harder to work, but also gave it great strength and durability. In addition, the lateral spread of its branches supplied a natural curvature for the ribs of a vessel’s hull, as well as providing the small corner or curved pieces (‘knees’ and ‘elbows’) that fit them together. At the launch the SCHOMBERG’s 34 year old master, Captain ‘Bully’ Forbes, had promised Melbourne in 60 days, "with or without the help of God." James Nicol Forbes was born in Aberdeen in 1821 and rose to fame with his record-breaking voyages on the famous Black Ball Line ships; MARCO POLO and LIGHTNING. In 1852 in the MARCO POLO he made the record passage from London to Melbourne in 68 days. There were 53 deaths on the voyage but the great news was of the record passage by the master. In 1954 Captain Forbes took the clipper LIGHTNING to Melbourne in 76 days and back in 63 days, this was never beaten by a sailing ship. He often drove his crew and ship to breaking point to beat his own records. He cared little for the comfort of the passengers. On this, the SCHOMBERG’s maiden voyage, he was going to break records. SCHOMBERG departed Liverpool on her maiden voyage on 6 October 1855 flying the sign “Sixty Days to Melbourne”. She departed with 430 passengers and 3000 tons cargo including iron rails and equipment intended to build the Melbourne to Geelong Railway and a bridge over the Yarra from Melbourne to Hawthorn. She also carried a cow for fresh milk, pens for fowls and pigs, 90,000 gallons of water for washing and drinking. It also carried 17,000 letters and 31,800 newspapers. The ship and cargo was insured for $300,000, a fortune for the time. The winds were poor as she sailed across the equator, slowing SCHOMBERG’s journey considerably. Land was first sighted on Christmas Day, at Cape Bridgewater near Portland, and Captain Forbes followed the coastline towards Melbourne. Forbes was said to be playing cards when called by the Third Mate Henry Keen, who reported land about 3 miles off, Due in large part to the captain's regarding a card game as more important than his ship, it eventually ran aground on a sand spit near Curdie's Inlet (about 56 km west of Cape Otway) on 26 December 1855, 78 days after leaving Liverpool. The sand spit and the currents were not marked on Forbes’s map. Overnight, the crew launched a lifeboat to find a safe place to land the ship’s passengers. The scouting party returned to SCHOMBERG and advised Forbes that it was best to wait until morning because the rough seas could easily overturn the small lifeboats. The ship’s Chief Officer spotted SS QUEEN at dawn and signalled the steamer. The master of the SS QUEEN approached the stranded vessel and all of SCHOMBERG’s passengers and crew were able to disembark safely. The SCHOMBERG was lost and with her, Forbes’ reputation. The Black Ball Line’s Melbourne agent sent a steamer to retrieve the passengers’ baggage from the SCHOMBERG. Other steamers helped unload her cargo until the weather changed and prevented the salvage teams from accessing the ship. Later one plunderer found a case of Wellington boots, but alas, all were for the left foot! Local merchants Manifold & Bostock bought the wreck and cargo, but did not attempt to salvage the cargo still on board the ship. They eventually sold it on to a Melbourne businessman and two seafarers. In 1864 after two of the men drowned when they tried to reach SCHOMBERG, salvage efforts were abandoned. Parts of the SCHOMBERG were washed ashore on the south island of New Zealand in 1870, nearly 15 years after the wreck. The wreck now lies in almost 9 metres of water. Although the woodwork is mostly disintegrated the shape of the ship can still be seen due to the remaining railway irons, girders and the ship’s frame. A variety of goods and materials can be seen scattered about nearby. Flagstaff Hill holds many items salvaged from the SCHOMBERG including a ciborium (in which a diamond ring was concealed), communion set, ship fittings and equipment, personal effects, a lithograph, tickets and photograph from the SCHOMBERG. One of the SCHOMBERG bells is in the Warrnambool Library. This nail is a registered artefact from the wreck of the SCHOMBERG, Artefact Reg No S/35 and is significant because of its association with the SCHOMBERG. The SCHOMBERG collection as a whole is of historical and archaeological significance at a State level, listed on the Victorian Heritage Register VHR S612. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from the SCHOMBERG is significant for its association with the Victorian Heritage Registered shipwreck. The collection is primarily significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the SCHOMBERG. The SCHOMBERG collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of an international passenger ship. The shipwreck collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the shipwreck and the ship, which was designed to be fastest and most luxurious of its day. The SCHOMBERG collection meets the following criteria for assessment: Criterion A: Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion B: Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion C: Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history. The object is the bottom end of a slightly curved iron planking nail with remnant of timber still attached, recovered from the wreck of the SCHOMBERG (1855). The shank of the nail is rectangular and it narrows to a flat (chisel like) ‘point’. The ‘head’ is missing although there is a quantity of dark red corrosion within the top of the surrounding wood, suggesting where it might have been. The artefact is from the wreck of the SCHOMBERG (1855) and was retrieved from part of the ship’s bow which was carried by sea currents to the South Island of New Zealand. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, schomberg, planking nail, rectangular ship’s nail, cast iron nail -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Print - Lithograph, sea rescue, R.N. Duffield, Australian cruiser “MELBOURNE” (Tons 5600) rescuing crew of sinking four-masted schooner “HELEN B. STERLING” of Halifax NS Canada, Tons 1343 in a gale in the Pacific Ocean, 19-11-1924
This framed lithograph print in watercolour and gouache was produced on November 19th, 1924, by 20th-century marine artist, Mr R.N. Duffield. It depicts the event of a sea rescue that took place two years earlier. The framer was A.L. Frith of Footscray, Melbourne, who actively advertised from 1933 to 1935. The now disbanded Shiplovers' Society of Victoria (1930-2018) donated the print, and it seems likely that this print was framed for that organisation. This graphic image shows the conditions in which the rescue from the wrecked Helen B. Sterling happened. Captain George Harris was master of the American-owned, four-masted windjammer. His wife Edith and their ten-year-old son Leslie were on board, along with a crew of fifteen seamen. The ship set off from Newcastle, NSW, on January 5th, 1922, loaded with a cargo of coal to deliver to the Society Islands and on to San Francisco. Young Leslie later wrote a lively school composition for his teacher about his experiences on board the Helen B Sterling. He tells of a fire that broke out the day after they departed and burned a hole in a beam. Then another troublesome time on the 9th, when a strong gale blew a sail off the ship. Finally, he tells of the highlight of his voyage when, on the 18th January, the ship was right in the path of a strong cyclone, which broke the mainmast. Huge waves crashed over both sides of the deck, meeting in the middle, and the ship began to sink. The rescue from the wreck was an exciting time for the young boy, and even more so when one of his cats survived after being carefully wrapped in a pillowcase and thrown down from the ship for the boy. Reporters later wrote about Leslie’s comments, “... what had grieved him most was the thought that he might never see his two little sisters again”. Captain Harris said in a published statement, “… the gale was the worst he had met in his 12 years’ experience at sea. All went well for the first week. We then encountered a strong blow from the south-east. We tried the gasoline pump, but the engine broke down, and we had to do the pumping by hand. We at once shortened sail, but the sea increased in fury to such an extent that men were washed from the pumps. I was below at 5:30 on Sunday morning [January 22nd, 1922] when the main mast went over the side, … I at once sent out SOS signals, and got word that HMAS Melbourne was coming to our assistance. I had made a mistake with regard to our position, but did not know it until 11:30 o’clock, when I sent out the correct location. This was picked up by the Melbourne and I received the following reply: “We will reach you about 2 am. Keep a good heart. The Melbourne will do all she can.” Our ship was practically awash when we were taken off.” (Ref: the ‘Helen B. Sterling Disaster’, Maitland Weekly Mercury, NSW, 4-2-1922.) Officers from the Royal Australian Navy, Captain Henry J Feakes (later Rear-Admiral) and Commander Wilfrid Ward Hunt, were on board the light cruiser, HMAS Melbourne (1913-1928), when it left Sydney for New Zealand. After the SOS was received, the ship sped at full steam towards the sinking Helen B. Sterling. They found the vessel at about midnight and shone bright search lights on the distressed ship to illuminate the desperate scene. The Melbourne was unable to move close to the schooner, so sixteen seamen, including Commander Hunt, volunteered to man the Melbourne’s lifesaving 12-oared cutter. They rowed the sea boat with great urgency towards the victims of the sinking ship, keen to save lives no matter what the conditions. When the cutter was close to the Sterling, a line was secured between the Sterling and the cutter. The weary, waterlogged and anxious men on board could be rescued, one at a time, in the breeches buoy equipment, which looked like canvas shorts with a lifesaving ring in the waistband. The victims were hauled along the line and pulled aboard by many willing hands. All eighteen crew and passengers were saved, including Captain Harris and his family. The seamen of the Melbourne received a heroes’ welcome when they arrived in New Zealand. The grateful survivors were taken to Auckland, where they received the care and comfort they needed. Melbourne’s Lord Mayor, Cr. Swanston, on behalf of the citizens of Melbourne, formally recognised the heroic rescue efforts of the seamen of the HMAS Melbourne on March 2nd, 1922, at a special presentation. Two large flags, a White Ensign and an Australian “Jack" Flag, were presented to the Captain of HMAS Melbourne, and souvenirs were awarded to the sea boat’s crew and its Commander, Wilfred Ward Hunt. Commander Hunt was also presented with an original watercolour depicting the heroic rescue from the wreck of the Helen B. Sterling, painted just after the event by renowned marine artist Arthur V Gregory (1867-1957), and he received a silver cigarette case bearing the City’s coat of arms and the inscription, "To Commander Ward Hunt from the Citizens of Melbourne as a memento of the rescue of the crew of Helen B. Stirling by H.M.A.S. Melbourne, on 23.1.22". Both the painting and the cigarette case are now treasured items inherited by his grandson; a reminder of “… a very fine naval gentleman who believed in leading by example." R.N. DUFFIELD: - The Lithograph print in our collection by 20th-century English artist R.N. Duffield is dated Nov. 19, 1924. It is very similar to, and possibly created from, the original A V Gregory watercolour presented to Commander Hunt and dated 1922. Mr R.N. Duffield has art works in the Yarmouth Museums, Norfolk Museums Collection; “Orient Liner Otranto …,” and "Convoy of six ships at sea", both painted in watercolour and gouache during the 1940s. Some of his other works, also painted in watercolour and gouache, have been advertised for sale on Internet sites. Some details differ between the original A.V. Gregory and this Lithograph Print: - -the words on the bow on the original watercolour are “Helen B. Sterling, Blain”, which is in Washington, USA, where the Sterling Shipping Company was registered from around 1919; the words on the print are “Helen B. Sterling, Halifax, N S”, for Nova Scotia, Canada, which is the hometown of Sterling Shipping Company founder’s wife, Helen B Sterling. -The watercolour is coloured and has fine details; the print is monochrome - The A V Gregory signed the watercolour in 1922, on the lower left; the print is signed with the Lithographer’s name on the lower right; “R N Duffield, Nov. 19. 1924” ARTHUR VICTOR GREGORY (1867-1957): - A.V. Gregory is a renowned marine artist who worked in watercolour and gouache. He painted actively between 1899 and 1932, creating over 3o0 works. South Melbourne, Victoria, was where he lived and worked. This Lithograph print is significant in that it depicts the rescuing of the passengers and crew of the schooner “Helen B Stirling”. At the time this was a significant event that made most Australian and New Zealand papers because of the involvement of the Australian cruiser “Melbourne”. The image demonstrates the perilous conditions experienced by seafarers. It includes an example of the line and breeches buoy method used to save lives at sea from the 1860s and into the 20th century. It reflects a time in our history when sail and steam ships cruised the world’s seas together, the former trading with a cargo of coal from Newcastle, the latter defending our country in World War I. The print is part of Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum’s Collection of maritime artworks that depict famous events, vessels and locations, showing the evolution of sea craft, and aiding the interpretation of our maritime history. The Lithograph print is behind glass in a black painted timber frame and mounted under a cream matte. The vivid image depicts a sea rescue in progress. The night scene is illuminated by a light beaming from a steamship, the Cruiser HMAS Melbourne. It reveals figures on the deck of a sinking sailing ship, the schooner Helen B. Sterling, as foaming waves roll across it. The stricken ship has a broken main mast, and a sail has been detached. A small figure is floating in the choppy sea, secured in a breeches buoy that is attached to a rescue line between a lifesaving cutter and the sailing ship. The crewmen in the cutter are ready to haul the shipwrecked victim aboard, while the figures on the foundering ‘Sterling’ watch them. The print’s paper-covered wooden backboard is attached to the frame with small tacks. A metal hanging wire is secured to two dissimilar eyelet screws. Inscriptions include text on the bow of the sinking vessel, a handwritten title below the picture, and a handwritten name in the print’s lower right corner. On the reverse are two oval, black ink stamps and a round cream label with printed text. The hand-painted print was reproduced from a lithograph, signed in the lower right, by R.N. Duffield of England, on November 19th, 1924. A Frith of Footscray, Melbourne framed it. Painted on the ship’s bow: “HELEN B. STERLING / HALIFAX N S” [Nova Scotia, Canada] Handwritten below the print: “AUSTRALIAN CRUISER “MEMBOURNE” (Tons 5600) rescuing crew of sinking four-masted schooner “HELEN B. STERLING” of Halifax NS Canada, Tons 1343 in a gale in the Pacific Ocean.” Handwritten on lower right: “R.N. DUFFIELD / Nov. 19. 1924” (underlined) On paper label: “Phone: / Footscray 398 [some of the text has torn off] / “A. FRITH / PICTURE FRAMER / Manufacturer / 17 Paisley Street / Footscray.“ On both oval stamps: “SHIPLOVERS SOCIETY OF VICTORIA / LIBRARY” flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, lithograph, lithograph print, reproduction print, helen b. sterling, the sterling, american owned schooner, halifax, halifax n s, halifax nova scotia, nova scotia, halifax n s canada, schooner, windjammer, sailing ship, four-masted ship, captain george harris, george harris, edith harris, leslie harris, sterling shipping line, hmas melbourne, hmas melbourne (1), cruiser hmas melbourne, the melbourne, australian cruiser, captain henry j feakes, commander wilfred ward hunt, sinking ship, shipwreck, sea rescue, gale, cyclone, 1922 rescue, shipwreck rescue, breeches buoy, line rescue, rescue line, lifesaving, cutter, cutter melbourne, sea boat, lifesaving crew, 12-oar cutter, shipwreck victim, r.n. duffield, marine artist, nov. 19. 1924, 20th century artist, a frith, footscray picture framer, shiplovers’ society of victoria, shiplovers’ society library, watercolour, a v gregory, arthur victor gregory, melbourne artist, newcastle coal, newcastle nsw, society islands, san fracisco, aukland new zealand, school composition, ship’s cat, sos signal, lord mayor cr. swanston, heroes, cigarette case