The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Preliminary sketch of an interior view of the wrecked church at Le Cateau. Note the absence of the dove Streeton included in the painting. This drawing was made in Streeton's sketchbook ART93175 and later excised.
Arthur Streeton is best known as one of the painters of the Heidelberg School in Melbourne in the late nineteenth century. His name is linked with Tom Roberts, Charles Conder, and Frederick McCubbin as responsible for developing in Australia an impressionist technique of painting, and depicting scenes that embraced the nationalistic concerns of the last two decades of the nineteenth century. During his lifetime he was acknowledged as the finest painter of the Australian landscape; he was the first Australian painter to be honoured by a retrospective exhibition in his own lifetime; and only the second to be knighted.
In 1918 while based in London, he was appointed by the Australian War Memorial as an official war artist and travelled to France to record the involvement of Australians in the battles taking place along the Somme River. During the period of his employment he produced ten paintings and eighty-six drawings that are held by the Memorial. These were all executed in the years 1918 and 1919. The Memorial later purchased his HMS Renown, Sydney Harbour painted in 1922, and commissioned several large paintings of significant wartime subjects.
This is a scene of a ruined cathedral interior, most probably in the town of Le Cateau. 'Cathedral Interior' is a sombre yet tranquil scene. Streeton had witnessed the aftermath of the destruction of
A brief sketch of what could possibly be ruined buildings. Probably a partial sketch of the building depicted in ART12639. The verso is blank. Purchased with the assistance of the Australian Govern
Artists sketchbook covering the campaign in the Somme Valley, November 1918. The sketchbook comprises 27 pages, including 5 blank pages, 20 sketches and two illegible partial sketches. Places depicte
Depicts the blown up viaduct bridge at Le Cateau. The German sign 'Zur Rampe' nailed on the telegraph pole at the side indicates the way to railway station. Arthur Streeton is best known as one of th
Depicts Peronne with ruined buildings in the background, artillery at left and a stone bridge at centre right. This drawing was made in Streeton's sketchbook ART93175 and later excised. Arthur Stree
Depicts the town of Boulogne with the city buildings in the background, railway engines and trucks, and soldiers marching in the foreground. This drawing was likely made on an excised double page spre
Depicts a view of the landscape outside Amiens. Arthur Streeton is best known as one of the painters of the Heidelberg School in Melbourne in the late nineteenth century. His name is linked with Tom R
Depicts a view of the Somme valley from near Corbie. Arthur Streeton is best known as one of the painters of the Heidelberg School in Melbourne in the late nineteenth century. His name is linked with
Depicts a view of the landscape outside Glisy, from the embankments, with Corbie indicated by Streeton as being in the background. Arthur Streeton is best known as one of the painters of the Heidelb
