Watercolours of Sydney locations / by Harry Weston

PXA 7271

fonds

approximately 1942-1955

Graphic Materials, Watercolours

9643935

4 watercolours (1 box) - watercolour, pencil - 24.5 x 17 cm and smaller

Henry John Weston was born in Tasmania in 1874. He lived in Melbourne from 1898 and established an advertising business as a commercial artist in 1901. By 1903, he was a well-known poster artist and during World War I, was commissioned to create recruitment posters. His background in commercial art and his skill at poster art in particular contributed to the propaganda style designs he produced for the war effort. He relocated to Sydney in 1905, and continued to work as an artist and cartoonist, his work including advertisements, book illustrations, and book covers. He was a member of numerous art societies and was associated with many of Australia’s significant cartoonists and illustrators including Norman Lindsay. He is best known for his war recruitment posters, as a contributor of caricatures and cartoons to The Bulletin, and designer of covers for The Lone Hand magazine. He died in October 1955.

References:
Library correspondence file
Design & Art Australia Online: https://www.daao.org.au/bio/henry-john-weston/ (Accessed 16 February 2021)

This collection formed part of the Estate of the late Kay Sclanders

Four watercolour paintings of locations in Sydney, New South Wales:

1. Mitchell Library, Sydney
2. Conservatorium Sydney
3. Belmore Park, Central Station
4. Collaroy

In copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder

Title devised by cataloguer.

Signed by the artist. Titles taken from original mounts. Inscriptions on reverse of mounts:
1. 235
2. 232
3. 151
4. 968

The watercolours appear to have been painted around the same time and are in the same artistic style. The Mitchell Library drawing shows the central portion of the building which was opened in 1942. Harry Weston died in October 1955.