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SS SOPHOCLES at sea

Artist John Allcot (Australian, 1888 - 1973)

Dateafter 1925

Object number00055449

NamePainting

MediumWatercolour on paper

DimensionsOverall (Framed): 406 × 508 × 18 mm, 1469 g
Overall (unframed): 215 × 317 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection gift from Geoff Payne and David Payne

Terms

DescriptionA framed watercolour painting by John Allcot of SS SOPHOCLES at sea, likely painted in the late 1920s or early 1930s. HistorySS SOPHOCLES, later TAMAROA, was originally built for the Aberdeen Lines primarily as a cargo vessel with accommodation for over 500 mixed class passengers. In 1926 SOPHOCLES began the New Zealand trade and converted from coal burning to oil. During World war II TAMAROA served as a troopship and returned to the New Zealand run at its end. This particular image of the SS SOPHOCLES by John Allcot belonged to master mariner Sidney Payne who served on the ship as a senior officer in 1925. Payne was a friend and former shipmate of Alcott and in 1909 had won a painting by him of the TSS MILTIADES, the vessel on which they were both travelling to Melbourne- Payne as a 17-year-old apprentice and Allcot as a stowaway. Payne later migrated with his family to Australia where he continued his friendship with Allcot and acquired this watercolour by him of the last ship he had served on. SignificanceAt a time of great change in the shipping industry, John Allcot celebrated the era of sailing ships and steamers. While he worked in the Mersey tugboats and sailed as a deck-boy in the barque, INVERMARK, Allcot loved painting and would scrounge ship's paint, sailcloth and handkerchiefs with which to depict the sea, ships and life on board.