Historical information

Print of an original oil painting created in 1874 (these numbers are in the top left corner) by artist Gabriel Max ("Gab Max" is in top right corner) and reproduced by Kodak. The reproduction was likely made for the Mission to Seamen from the early 1906 to the 1960s to hang in its chapel.

The publisher Reinthal & Newman, New York, was in business between 1906 and 1928. The company originally published postcards, but from 1920 they published prints of art from original works of famous and not so well-known artists. The published items were distributed by the House of Art, NY, which continued on into the 1950s.

The print was part of the original furnishings of St Nicholas Seamen's Church, Williamstown, Victoria. The church was operated by the Missions to Seamen organisation.

THE MISSIONS TO SEAMEN (Brief History: for more, see our Reg. No. 611, Set of Pews)

The Missions to Seamen, an Anglican charity, has served seafarers of the world since 1856 in Great Britain. It symbol is a Flying Angel, inspired by a Bible verse. Today there are centr4es in over 200 ports world-wide where seamen of all backgrounds are offered a warm welcome and provided with a wide range of facilities.

In Victoria the organisation began in Williamstown in 1857. It was as a Sailors’ Church, also known as ‘Bethel’ or the ‘Floating Church’. Its location was an old hulk floating in Hobson’s Bay, Port of Melbourne. It soon became part of the Missions to Seamen, Victoria. In the year 2000 the organisation, now named Mission to Seafarers, still operated locally in Melbourne, Portland, Geelong and Hastings.

The Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild was formed in 1906 to support the Missions to Seamen in Melbourne and other centres such as Williamstown. Two of the most significant ladies of the Guild were founder Ethel Augusta Godfrey and foundation member Alice Sibthorpe Tracy (who established a branch of the Guild in Warrnambool in 1920). The Guild continued its work until the 1960s.

In 1943 a former Williamstown bank was purchased for the Missions to Seaman Club. The chapel was named St Nicholas’ Seamen’s Church and was supported by the Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild, the Williamstown Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary and the League of Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Friends. It ceased operation in 1966.

A Missions to Seamen Chapel and Recreation Room was a significant feature of ports during the late 1800s and into the 1900s. It seemed appropriate for Flagstaff Hill to include such a representation within the new Maritime Village, so the Melbourne Board of Management of Missions to Seamen Victoria gave its permission on 21st May 1979 for the entire furnishings of the Williamstown chapel to be transferred to Flagstaff Hill. The St Nicholas Seamen’s Church was officially opened on October 11, 1981 and closely resembles the Williamstown chapel.

Significance

The print is significant because of its association with the Mission to Seamen in Williamstown, Victoria. This organisation had strong connections to the colonisation of Victoria by people travelling and arriving by sea.
The picture is also significant as a representation of 19th century religious art by Gabriel Cornelius von Max.

Physical description

Print of an oil painting representing Jesus Christ, closed eyes, tear on cheek, with a crown of thorns, titled “Jesus Christus”, produced in 1874 by 19th century artist Gabriel Cornelius von Max (GAB MAX).
Print on paper; black and grey drawing on beige canvas-look background with image of fixing pins in each corner, edges look like torn fabric. Published by Reinthal & Newman, New York.
Print is behind glass, mounted in heavy wooden frame that is painted dark brown.
Reverse has numbers on small white label. Base of reverse has two small holes, each with indentations from something round. Backing board has indentations from nails no longer there. There are remnants of original hanging wire, but this has been replaced.
Part of the St Nicholas Seamen's Church Collection.

Inscriptions & markings

FRONT:
Top left :1874”
Top right “GAB MAX” [Gabriel Cornelius von Max]
Handwritten script under picture “Jesus Christus”.
Printed bottom left on front “A33 © REINTHAL & NEWMAN PUBS. N.Y.”
REVERSE:
“162” written in black felt pen on white label.
Pencilled on reverse "11 3/8 x 9 1/4" and "Kodak" and other indecipherable markings.