Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo

(Australia 1870–1955)

Title

The strike's aftermath

Year

1913

Media category

Painting

Materials used

oil on canvas

Dimensions

121.6 x 91.4cm stretcher; 140.5 x 110.5 x 8.5cm frame

Signature & date

Signed and dated l.r. corner, red oil "A Dattilo-Rubbo/ ... 1913".

Credit

Purchased 1913

Accession number

640

Copyright

Location

Not on display

Further information

The British National Coal Strike of 1912, in which coal miners fought to obtain a minimum wage, inspired similar campaigns across Australia and New Zealand. Social realist painter Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo drew on these turbulent times in this portrayal of a dispirited miner, seated with the Labor Party newspaper, The Worker, at his feet, his unused pick and shovel leaning against the bare wall.

Undoubtedly one of the most innovative and charismatic teachers in Sydney during the first decades of the 20th century, Dattilo-Rubbo is recognised for his leading role in the development of modernism in Australia.

Bibliography (4)

Jean Campbell, Cav. Antonio Dattilo-Rubb : painter and teacher and some prominent pupils 1980, 'Introduction', pg. 4-22, Sydney, 1980, 23, 29. cat.no. 3

Emma Collerton, Australian Collection Focus: Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo 2011, 'Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo', pg. 2-5, Sydney, 2011, 10 (colour illus.).

Royal Art Society of New South Wales, Royal Art Society of New South Wales 34th annual exhibition (1913) 1913, Sydney, 1913. cat.no. 53; price: 100 gns

Daniel Thomas (Editor) and Ron Radford (Assistant Co-ordinator), Creating Australia: 200 years of art 1788-1988 1988, Melbourne, 1988, 149 (colour illus.).

Exhibition history (5)

Thirty-fourth Annual Exhibition of the Royal Art Society of New South Wales (1913), Vickery's Galleries, Sydney, Aug 1913 -

Cav. Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo: painter and teacher and some prominent pupils (1980), Manly Regional Art Gallery and Museum, Sydney, 05 Dec 1980–18 Jan 1981

Italian artists working in 19th century Australia (1993), S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 24 Sep 1993–21 Nov 1993

Australian Collection Focus: Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo (2011), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 28 May 2011–14 Aug 2011

Glorious Days: Australia 1913, National Museum of Australia, Canberra, 07 Mar 2013–14 Oct 2013