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Collection

An image of David's first victory by William Strutt
Alternate image of David's first victory by William Strutt Alternate image of David's first victory by William Strutt

William Strutt

(England, Australia 03 Jul 1825–03 Jan 1915)

Title
David's first victory
Place of origin
United Kingdom
Year
1868
Media category
Painting
Materials used
oil on canvas
Dimensions

203.5 x 111.7cm stretcher; 229.0 x 137.0 x 6.7cm frame:

SUPPORT; x x

Signature & date
Signed and dated l.l., "W. Strutt 1868".
Credit
Purchased 1974
Accession number
76.1974
Location
19th c Australian art
Further information

William Strutt was one of the first artists in Australia to produce large-scale history paintings. He also painted religious subjects, exhibiting these works regularly at the Royal Academy after his return to England.

A fine example of the latter, 'David’s first victory' portrays the biblical hero triumphant over the dead lion and bear, while bleating sheep and goats express their gratitude. Composed according to academic conventions, David stands at the apex of a triangle, its base formed by the lion’s body. Various studies were made for this painting, including a sketch of a lion and a bear made at the London Zoo in 1868.

The painting’s conservation and new frame were generously supported by Hyperion Asset Management 2010–11.

Bibliography (11)

Clune Galleries, A selection of paintings and prints (1974) 1974, Sydney, 1974, (colour illus.).

Heather Curnow, William Strutt 1980, 'England 1862-1915', pg. 46-60, Australia, 1980, 50, 70, 71 (illus.), 107. cat.no. 12

Heather Curnow, The life & art of William Strutt, 1825-1915, 'English trends', pg. 55-72, Martinborough, 1980, 37, 39, 56, 57, 59, 76, 144, 194 (illus.). cat.no. 45

Cedric Flower (Compilator), Erotica: aspects of the erotic in Australian art, South Melbourne, 1977, 12, 21 (illus.).

Renée Free, Art Gallery of New South Wales catalogue of British paintings, Sydney, 1987, 193 (illus.).

Renée Free and Rose Peel, Dreams and realities: Victorian works on paper 1993, Domain, 1993, 2.

Terry Ingram., The Australian financial review 07 Nov 2002, 'A rare body of work', Sydney, 07 Nov 2002, 65. Work mentioned in relation to another Strutt painting titled 'David's first victory' to go up for auction at Christie's sale on November 26, 2002.

Hendrik Kolenberg, 19th century Australian watercolours, drawing and pastels from the Gallery's collection 2005, 'Introduction', pg. 6-16, Domain, 2005, 9.

Sotheby's Australia, Important paintings from the collection of John Schaeffer A.O., Sydney, 25 August 2003, Sydney, 2003, 14. lot no. 5; another version of the AGNSW's 'David's first victory' is reproduced in colour and was auctioned through Sotheby's Sydney, on 25 August 2003 as part of the John Schaeffer collection.

Daniel Thomas, Australian art in the 1870s 1976, 'Introduction', pg.4-6, Sydney, 1976, 16, 51 (illus.). cat.no. 12

Peter Tomory and Anne Kirker, British painting 1800-1990 in Australian and New Zealand public collections, Sydney, 1997, 166. cat.no. 2116

Exhibition history (7)

First Annual International Exhibition, Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences, London, 01 May 1871–30 Sep 1871

Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne 1888, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne, Melbourne, 01 Aug 1888–31 Jan 1889

Australian art in the 1870s:

William Strutt (1981):

Dreams and realities: Victorian works on paper, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 07 Aug 1993–24 Oct 1993

Unknown, Geelong circa 1912, Exhibition Venue Unknown

A Selection of Paintings and Prints (1974), Thirty Victoria Street, Potts Point