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The ARCHIBALD RUSSELL

Artist Thomas Wells (1916-2004 American)

Datec 1939

Object number00032329

NamePainting

MediumOil on canvas, wood

DimensionsOverall: 565 x 684 x 37 mm, 2.94 kg

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds

Terms

DescriptionThis painting depicts the four-mast steel bark ACHIBALD RUSSELL just offshore a landscape of green hills. The painting was produced when the artist was onboard the PASSAT in 1939, anchored alongside the ARCHIBALD RUSSELL, MOSHLU and LAWHILL in Spencer Gulf off Port Lincoln.HistoryARCHIBALD RUSSELL was a four-masted steel bark and the last vessel to be built by Scott Shipbuilding and Engineering Co in Scotland for Captain Hardie in 1905. It was involved in transporting coal, wheat, nitrate, grain, timber and oil between New York, South America, Europe and Australia. It had an active career until it was broken up in 1949. SignificanceThis ship portrait is representative of the transportation of grain from South Australia. It is an example of the work of Thomas Wells, considered to be one of the most technically accurate ship portraitists.