Clerk enlisting in Australian Infantry Forces (one of six murals)

Images(3)

Clerk enlisting in Australian Infantry Forces (one of six murals)

Artist David Henry Souter (1862 - 1935)

Date1920

Object number00055524

NameMural

MediumOil paints on wood panel.

DimensionsOverall: 22.2 kg
Overall: 670 x 4,080 x 50 mm,

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection funded by Australian National Maritime Museum Foundation

Terms

DescriptionOne of six murals of various themes painted by David Henry Souter between 1920 and 1934 that hung on the walls of the Bondi Surf Life Saving Club. This first panel outlines a man’s call to war and his experience fighting overseas in WWI. HistoryHenry Souter, along with artists such as Sydney Long and Norman and Lionel Lindsay was part of a movement known as the Australian Classical revivalists that blended classical figures and pagan spirits with Australian landscapes. Their work was closely linked with the nationalism of the pre-Federation and post WW1 periods. Starting from the left of this first mural, a man wearing a suit abruptly stands up from his desk as a man in overalls grabs his shoulder. This particular scene is enclosed within two allegories, a man wearing a Roman uniform and a woman with her body wrapped with an Australian flag. This scene represents an Australian youth answering the call of war. The second part of the panel refers to the battles fought by the Australian Infantry Forces. In a dark landscape, a man wearing a uniform wades ashore as he holds a rifle and is being watched over by an allegory of the angel of death, who is holding a wreath that reads ”Gallipoli”. The scene continues with an allegory of France and men from the Australian Infantry holding rifles and one riding a horse. This scene refers to the Australian Troops fighting in Europe in World War I. The middle part of the mural is slightly higher than the rest of the panels, depicting a monument with a flag on the background. There is a wounded man leaning on the monument to the left and a Field with crosses erected from the ground with a celestial figure holding a torch on the right, referencing the sacrifice of war. The Bondi murals are bold and highly evocative. All five panels combined reflect themes including heroism, defence, militarism, self-sacrifice, the surf-life saving movement and beach culture in Australia. SignificanceWith his military and surf lifesaving background, Henry Souter was ideally placed to draw on these Australian themes of heroism to create these monumental panels. The works depict themes which have helped to shape our national identity – the diggers at Gallipoli, bush pioneers, the bronzed surfer, and a fit and healthy population enjoying their leisure at the beach.