Fine Art Auctions

'One is impressed first by a tremendous display of colour and a dauntless feeling of optimism … He displays remarkable knowledge and vigour in his paintings of animals. Arthur Streeton ‘. 1

This work The Stone Carter 1920 comes from an early exhibition period and highlights a sense of postwar Australia, hard-working effort, determination and the team of man and horse. In a tough and unforgiving environment of heat, heavy wet roads, the exertion of the animals, their power, strength and purposefulness is foremost.

The scene exemplifies a spirit of the new founded nation, the Anzac spirit and the tenacity required of the hard post war years and the toil to gain dignity. The Carter is moving stone, emblematic of the bourgeoning development of a new nation.

The label verso notes the date 1920 and acknowledges ‘his famous picture The Enemy in Sight (1916) was purchased by the Sydney Gallery for 350 pounds’ acquired by the AGNSW, and the ‘collector R.C.Clarke’

The Stone Carter is a heroic work of Australian endeavour.

Septimus Power, alongside George W Lambert, were acknowledged masters of horse subjects. Within the predominantly landscape-based Australian painting tradition, produced from the nationalistic period of the 1890s, works celebrated rural themes to describe the essence of place in terms of people and society depicting scenes of farming development from the rugged bush and settler homes.

In 1905 Power travelled to Europe studying at Academe Julian in Paris and then relocated to London.

In 1917 he was appointed an official war artist with the Australian Imperial Force, attached to the 1st Division Australian Imperial Force (AIF). He worked in France from September to December, and was commissioned a second time from August 2018 to March 1920, and captured some of the last significant horse battles to take place in modern warfare in the paintings he created for the Australian War Memorial. Works featuring significant campaigns of the Australian Light Horse, a number of which are held in public collections including Australian War Memorial First Australian Division Artillery going into the 3rd Battle of Ypres 1919, Saving the Guns at Robecq 1920, Bringing Up the Guns 1921, and Anzac 1921, NGV

Between the wars Power lived intermittently in Melbourne ad overseas. His departures from and returns to Australia were marked by significant exhibitions, usually featuring a much-praised Royal Academy work as centrepieces. He maintained profile and exhibitions during the depression years, including commissioned in 1927 with WB McInnes to paint the ceremonial opening of the Federal parliament and also executed various other commissions for State and Federal commissions including a mural ‘War’ for the Public Library of Victoria 1924.

His exhibitions were held in various locations including The Atheneum , Victorian Arts Society Galleries, Guild Hall Fine Art Society Gallery, 100 Exhibition St Melbourne.