French sailor cleaning ship's gun

Photographer Samuel J Hood Studio (Australian, 1899 - 1953)

Date1930-1932

Object number00034671

NamePhotograph

MediumGlass plate negative

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection

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DescriptionImage depicts French sailor standing on wires cleaning forward gun at bow, likely the French naval sloop BELLATRIX.HistoryThis image possibly depicts a French sailor on board the naval sloop BELLATRIX. The vessel visited Sydney in December 1929, December 1930 and July 1932 and was commanded by Commander Jells, Captain M Bastard and Commandant Constantan respectively. Each time, it docked in Morts Dock in Balmain for its 'annual overhaul' (The Sydney Morning Herald, 3 February 1931). Newspapers provided photographs of French and Pacific Islander sailors and crew at work during each stay in Sydney.SignificanceThe Samuel J Hood photographic collection records an extensive range of maritime activity on Sydney Harbour, including sail and steam ships, warships, crew portraits, crews at work, ship interiors, stevedores loading and unloading cargo, port scenes, pleasure boats and harbourside social activities from the 1890s through to the 1950s. They are also highly competent artistic studies and views - Hood was regarded as an important figure in early Australian photojournalism. Hood’s maritime photographs are one of the most significant collections of such work in Australia.