Pencil sketches of a Boeing 707 flight deck, Melbourne Airport, and people and places in Sydney, Port Kembla, the Snowy Mountains, and Brisbane, September 1959 / drawn by Juliet Pannett

PXA 1288

fonds

September 1959

Graphic Materials, Drawings

922932

Juliet Kathleen Pannett, nee Somers (1911-2005), an artist, portraitist and teacher, was born in Hove, Sussex, in 1911. After studying at the Brighton School of Art she began, at age 18, producing drawings of characters for local newspapers and magazines. During the 1950s Pannett became a familiar figure sketching musicians at the Albert Hall, Festival Hall, and in London jazz clubs.

Pannett exhibited her works at the Royal Academy, Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Pastel Society, City of London Art Exhibition, and other shows in London and abroad. She also illustrated books and worked for national daily newspapers including "The Illustrated London News", and for "Radio Times" and "The Law Guardian". As a staff artist for "The Illustrated London News" she had her own seat in the House of Commons.

She painted and drew a range of subjects including members of the Royal Family, politicians, musicians, dancers, intellectuals, soldiers, and medical and legal personalities.

Pannett was special artist for several inaugural flights for Qantas Airlines, Trans Canada Airlines, and El Al. On 11 September 1959, Pannett was one of a Press party of nine on board Qantas Boeing 707's inaugural world flight which flew from London to Sydney (via San Francisco, Honolulu, and Fiji) in 31 hours 36 minutes. After touring Australia for 11 days she returned to London in late September 1959 via Singapore, Thailand, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo, Athens, and Rome. Some of the drawings made during this trip were published in "The Illustrated London News" in October 1959 and April 1960, and were exhibited in the gallery at Qantas House, Piccadilly, in December 1959. Qantas Empire Airways commenced Boeing 707 flights between London and Sydney (the "Kangaroo Route") in October 1959.

Pannett was awarded an MBE in 1991. She died on 22 August 2005, aged 94.

References:
The Guardian, 6 October 2005. http://www.guardian.co.uk (accessed 19 April 2011)
The Illustrated London News, 24 October 1959, pp. 510-513, 19 December 1959, p. 910, and 30 April 1960, pp. 744-745. The Illustrated London News Historical Archive 1842-2003. http://gdc.gale.com/ (accessed 19 April 2011)
The Independent, 1 September 2005. http://www.independent.co.uk (accessed 19 April 2011)
The Sydney Morning Herald, 17 September 1959, p. 30. The Sydney Morning Herald Archives 1955-1995. http://archives.smh.com.au/ (accessed 14 April 2011)

A series of 15 pencil drawings of people and places made during a visit to Australia by the artist in September 1959:

1. Flight Deck, Boeing 707. Qantas. 11th September, 1.30 pm
2. Parliament House, Sydney. 14th September
3. Whale Beach. 14th September
4. Port Kembla. N.S.W. 16th September
5. 18th September. Adaminaby Dam. Australian Alps
6. Adaminaby. The drowned town
7. View from Happy Jack's Lookout
8. Happy Jack's Dam. 900 cubic feet per second.
9. Tumut Pond Dam
10. Brisbane from Bartley's Hill. Umbrella Tree, oranges, bananas and pawpaw. 21st September
11. View from Vaucluse, Sydney. 23rd September
12. Aboriginal Children, La Perouse, 23rd September
13. Scotchman's Bay, La Perouse, Sydney. 23rd September. Aboriginal Settlement
14. Joe Timbery, Champion Thrower of Australia, making a boomerang from myrtle. 23rd September
15. Passenger Terminal at Melbourne Airport. 25th September

Copyright status:: In copyright - Life of artist plus 70 years.

Item nos. 1-4 and 10-15 published in "The Illustrated London News", 24 October 1959, pp. 510-513. Item nos. 5-8 published in "The Illustrated London News", 30 April 1960, pp. 744-745¶¶Reference:¶The Illustrated London News Historical Archive 1842-2003. http://gdc.gale.com/ (accessed 19 April 2011)

Titles taken from drawings

Two drawings "From the Circular Quay, Sydney. 22nd Sep." and "View from Pylon, Sydney Bridge. Site for new Opera House in foreground. 22nd September" (Leonard Joel, Art & Books, Double Bay, Sydney, 27 March 2011, Lot 250) not acquired by Mitchell Library. Photocopies of Lot 250 filed with drawings

Item nos. 5-7, 9, and 11 signed 'Juliet Pannett' in pencil at lower right.

Item no. 8 inscribed in pencil verso 'View from Eucumbene Lookout. Eucumbine [i.e. Eucumbene] Lake River & Dam'

Dates taken from drawings.

Item nos. 1-4 and nos. 10-14 stamped '24 Oct 1959' and 'ILN' inscribed in ink on back of original mounts.

Item nos. 6-9 stamped '30 Apr 1960' and inscribed 'p743' (no. 9), 'p744' (nos. 5), or 'p745' (nos. 7-8) in ink on back of original mounts