J Class submarine off the coast of Geelong
Artist
Geoffrey S Coates
Date1922
Object number00028455
NamePainting
MediumOil paint on board, framed.
DimensionsOverall: 465 x 590 x 20 mm, 2.25 kg
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA painting by Geoffrey S. Coates of a J Class submarine off the coast of Geelong, 1922.
The Australian flag flies at the bow of the submarine, the Royal Australian Navy white ensign flies from the stern. Artist's signature and date are lower left 'Geoffrey S Coates 1922.'
Partner painting of 00028456.HistoryThe J Class submarines had a brief and unspectacular career with the RAN. They were part of the Gift
Fleet to Australia after World War I and arrived in 1919.
By 1929 they had all been decommissioned. This was due to various effects - their generally poor condition meant expensive and time consuming refits; the economic restraints after the War meant there was little in the way of funding to make them effective. Nevertheless they did undertake some anti-submarine training roles.SignificanceRepresentations of the J Class submarines are not abundant. The artist has been identified as being a Royal Australian Navy submariner in1922 and herein lies the value of the painting - drawn by an Australian submariner who almost certainly served on one of them.
