Design and Art Australia Online

painter, came to Melbourne from England in 1853. He studied painting at the National Gallery School, Melbourne in 1875-76 and privately under J.H. Scheltema. Exhibited Victorian Artists’ Society, 1895-98.

A painting offered to the Art Section of the Australian War Memorial in 2001 titled Aussies (oil on canvas, 77× 63 cm) has a small gold wooden nameplate carrying this title attached to its gilded wood frame. It depicts well-laden soldiers marching along an Australian bush track and has been dated c.1914-15 by the AWM on the basis of the weaponry, haversacks and uniforms. Signed solely with a monogram in the lower right hand corner – a capital 'R’ encircled with a capital 'C’ like a copyright symbol – the painting has been attributed to Robert Camm. Claire Baddeley thinks 'the quality and size of the frame would seem to indicate that the work was intended for public display, possibly an exhibition (a patriotic fund exhibition?) or for display in a club. It is in good condition and the curators were keen for it to enter the collection, as they had seen few images of soldiers painted in Australia at the beginning of WWI.’ Nevertheless, it had some doubts about the attribution and in May 2001 were keen to find out more about artist and painting. Robert Camm (1847-1933) painted few figurative works, being best known for his pastoral scenes and his coastal views in Victoria of the Apollo Bay, Lorne and Ocean Grove areas.

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Writers:

Staff Writer

Date written:

1999

Last updated:

2011