Military trucks in the drive at Cathay Building, Singapore Accession Number: ART23371

Description

Ernest Buckmaster was born in Hawthorn, Melbourne on July 3 1897. After being rejected for military service due to his physical frailty Buckmaster attended the National Gallery Art School from 1918-24. Ernest Buckmaster was first offered a position as an official war artist on January 20 1945, following the recommendation of the previous Director of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales, James Stuart Macdonald, though he did not accepted his appointment until August 24 1945, following the completion of a commission in New Zealand. Due to his age of 48 and poor health Buckmaster was not enlisted in the army and was accredited as a war correspondent. Despite being commissioned to paint the Japanese surrender, after a lengthy process preparing to be transported to Singapore, Buckmaster, along with a group of correspondents and photographers arrived two days after the surrender ceremony.

This painting depicts the Cathay Building, one of the sights of pre-war Singapore and its largest building. A cinema and large restaurant on the lower floor, the several other floors were given to flats and offices. Depicts vehicles, including a jeep, ambulance, truck and sedan cars, "In Liberated Singapore". A portion of the city can be seen in the background.

Details

Conflicts

• Second World War, 1939-1945

Places

• Singapore

Tags

• Motor vehicles
• Civilian buildings