Skip to main content
Advanced Search
Book of watercolours
Book of watercolours

Book of watercolours

Artist (1867 - 1950)
Datec 1920
Object number00054409
NameWatercolour album
MediumWatercolours on paper bound together
DimensionsOverall: 220 × 145 × 30 mm, 466 g
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Dr John and Dr Marcus Hockings
DescriptionA book of watercolours by Percy Hockings. Orginally the book was titled ' Catechism on the Field' but pages were cut and replaced with 61 watercolours and pencil or ink sketches.The topics covered range from landscapes, Australian flora and fauna, Torres Strait, vessels, Sydney scenes, character studies and other maritime subjects. Percy Hockings was a trained architrect and the sketches provide a strong, personal observation of the scenes or people they depict and have been done with a draughtmans' accuracy.HistoryPearling was one of Australia's early industries that provided a strong trade with European countries. It has a long history of events, activities, methods and equipment that were undertaken or developed in Australia. It also forged close connections with Indigenous communities, south East Asian people and the Japanese pearling communities. Percy Frank Hockings was a cousin of Reginald Augustus Charles Hockings (24.05.1868 - 04.06.1932) who was one of the main figures in the Thursday Island/Torres Strait pearling industry in the late 1890s and early 1900s. Percy also trained as an architect, along with his brother Edwin Morton, but rarely worked as one, and was able to spend much of his time travelling widely. The two brothers travelled the world together (Europe, the Pacific, and Thursday Island) and accumulated a wealth of drawings, oil paintings, and watercolours, of which these drawings are a small part. Percy is John Hockings’ great uncle. John Hockings’ grandfather Edwin Morton Hockings went on to practice as an architect and was responsible for many buildings in Rockhampton where they lived. John Hockings is also an architect.SignificanceThe series of paintings by Percy Hockings represent a very personal and accurate observation of the scenes and objects depicted, created by a person skilled at accurate illustration.