Image Not Available

John Charles Goodchild

1898 - 1980

BiographyJohn Goodchild emigrated to South Australia with his family in 1913 from England. He joined the Army in 1917 and served with the 9th Field Ambulance. He was injured on the Western Front and while recuperating managed to produce some sketches which showcased his talent and he was commissioned at the end of the war to produce drawings for 'Where Australians Rest', published 1920 by the Department of Defence and presented to the next-of-kin of Australian servicemen who had died.

John Goodchild studied art in both Adelaide and London after the war and also taught and worked commercially. After marrying fellow artist Doreen Rowley in 1926, the couple returned to London, both studying at the Central School. On returning to Adelaide in 1929, the Goodchild's opened a studio and John would become president of the (Royal) South Australian Society of Arts.

John Goodchild was a versatile artist, working in different, mediums and his work was acquired by various institutions within Australasia and internationally. He consistently played a role in the administration for the arts in South Australia and was later commissioned as an official war artist by the Australian War Memorial for the final events of WWII. Notably, on 2 September he was present at the signing of the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.

.

Person TypeIndividual