Group enjoying drinks on deck

Photographer Gervaise Churchill Purcell (1919-1999)

Date1946-1962

Object numberANMS1404[695]

NameNegative

MediumCellulose (nitrate or acetate) negative, black and white

DimensionsOverall: 99 × 125 × 1 mm

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Leigh Purcell

Terms

DescriptionSix models posing on the deck of a ship wearing an assortment of swimwear and leisure outfits. Photograph taken by commercial photographer Gervaise Purcell.HistoryFrom the late 1940s, Gervaise focused his career on fashion photography often his photographs would appear in publications such as the 'Australian Women’s Weekly'. Gervaise also worked on other commissions involving maritime links to the swimwear manufacturer, Jantzen and the cruise ship operators, the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O). He also worked for retailing giants David Jones and Hordern Brothers, radio technology manufacturer Amalgamated Wireless Australasia (AWA) and tourism operator Ansett Airways.SignificanceThese photographic negatives were taken by Australian commercial photographer Gervaise Purcell from the late 1940s to the early 1960s. They represent his work for clients such as swimwear manufacturer Jantzen, as well as retail giants David Jones and Hordern Brothers, cruise ship operators the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O), radio technology manufacturer Amalgamated Wireless Australasia (AWA) and tourism operator Ansett Airways. Many of the images were taken with a Graflex Crown Graphic camera in the 1950s.