"Captain Cook visits a native camp". Modelled in sand by J. Suchomlin, St. Kilda 1934. Only sand, water and colour used. Melbourne Centenary 1834-1934.

SUCHOMLIN, John [Photographer unknown]

About this Item

[Title from artist's handwritten text in image]. Gelatin silver photograph printed on card stock, 88 x 139 mm, no publisher indicated; verso with fully contemporary handwritten message in pencil, including the relevant comment: 'Darcy got this out of my bags, don't know he said whether you'll like Blacks, but he is certain you will all like Captain Cook.'; fine condition. John [Jack] Suchomlin was a Ukrainian artist who had studied in Germany before arriving in Adelaide as a political refugee in 1911. He became an Australian citizen in 1913 and married Elsie Mattingley. Between 1926 and 1940 he created stunning sand sculptures on Manly beach, Sydney, which were a popular tourist attraction. In 1929, at Suchomlin's request, the Manly Council createdThe Wishing Well shelter at South Steyne beach, which was used by him for several years as a sand sculpture 'gallery'. (Now refurbished, the shelter is today adorned with aluminium reproductions of some of Suchomlin's works). Appreciated by the public for their highly realistic qualities, Suchomlin's sculptures included life-size depictions of aviators Bert Hinkler and Amy Johnson, Biblical tableaux, and his celebrated swimmers, some of which were used in advertisements for Jantzen swimming costumes. In the 1930s he also created sand sculptures on Melbourne's St. Kilda beach as part of Victoria's Centenary celebrations (although why he chose Captain Cook as a subject, rather than John Pascoe Fawkner or John Batman, is not clear), and at Margate in Brisbane.

Seller Inventory # 50331

Bibliographic Details

• Title: "Captain Cook visits a native camp". Modelled in sand by J. Suchomlin, St. Kilda 1934. Only sand, water and colour used. Melbourne Centenary 1834-1934.