[study for 'Transport driver']
Art ART90952 Second World War, 1939-1945Aircraftwoman Florence Ethel Miles, Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force, 25 Operational Base Unit, Cairns, Queensland.
Transport driver (Aircraftwoman Florence Miles) Accession Number: ART24393
Description
Heysen selected Aircraftwoman Florence Ethel Miles as the subject for this painting, since she saw Florence as a 'young, forward lass'. Miles enlisted in the WAAAF in 1942, aged 21. Prior to the outbreak of war she had worked as a sales assistant for a shoe company in Melbourne. She held a driver's licence and had gained considerable experience driving a variety of vehicles. Once enlisted, she was sent to the Engineering School and served at the No. 25 Operational Base Unit in Queensland. Given her experience with vehicles, it was inevitable that she would become a driver during the war. 'Transport driver' is a compelling portrait of a confident young woman who, despite the masculine uniform and large leather gloves, retains her femininity. Heysen first made a sketch of Miles in charcoal. She transferred this to canvas, placing the figure in a bus, a vehicle that required strength to manoeuvre.
Details
Accession Number
ART24393
Artist
Classification
Art
Object Type
Painting
Physical Description
Medium: oil on canvas
Measurement
Framed: 87 cm x 102.3 cm x 5.6 cm
Unframed: 66.1 cm x 81.1 cm x 1.6 cm
Unframed: 66.1 cm x 81.1 cm x 1.6 cm
Medium
oil on canvas
Date Made
1945
Place Made
Gallery location
Main Bld: World War 2 Gallery, Gallery 4
Whole/Part
Whole
Item Count
1
Credit Line
Acquired 1946
Copyright
Copyright expired - public domain
Conflicts
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Units
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