Working the heavies Accession Number: ART02923

Description

Charcoal and watercolour sketch depicting the gun crew of a 9.2 inch Breech loading howitzer at the Third Battle of Ypres. Four men are lifting a shell on a support for loading, there are other guns in background. Frederick Leist was a painter, illustrator and teacher. He studied at the Sydney Art School and the Art School of New South Wales from c.1894-95. During the 1890s he worked as an illustrator for the 'Bulletin' and 'Sydney Mail' and trained as a furniture designer with the David Jones department store. In 1908 he went to England and became an artist with the London 'Graphic' while exhibiting his art work at the Royal Academy in 1911. He worked for the British War Office between 1915 and 1916 and worked for His Majesty's Stationary Office designing posters for First World War recruitment. Leist was appointed an official war artist in September 1917, attached to the 5th Division AIF and worked twice in France between September to December 1917 and from June to August 1918. His commission was terminated in 1920.

Details

Accession Number
ART02923
Classification
Art
Object Type
Work on paper
Physical Description
Medium: charcoal with watercolour heightened with white
Measurement
sheet: 36.8 cm x 46.4 cm
Medium
charcoal with watercolour heightened with white on paper
Date Made
1917
Place Made
Whole/Part
Whole
Item Count
1
Credit Line
Acquired under the official war art scheme 1917
Copyright
Copyright expired - public domain

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Last modified: 11 July 2025 - 2.44 am