The Rearguard (The Spirit of the ANZAC) 1927

William Longstaff (1879-1953)

The Rearguard (The Spirit of the ANZAC) 1927

oil on canvas
136.0 x 270.0 cm

signed lower left: Will Longstaff

Provenance:

Acquired directly from the artist by

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1928

The Owston Collection, Perth

Bonhams, The Owston Collection, Sydney, 25 June 2010, lot 444

Private collection, Melbourne

Exhibited:

Australia House Library, High Commission of Australia, London, March 1928

Melbourne Town Hall, September 1929

Grace Brothers, Sydney, October 1929

Reference:

'New Picture. "The Rearguard." Longstaff and Gallipoli Evacuation', The Brisbane Courier, 9 March 1928

'Longstaff's Work. The Evacuation of Gallipoli', The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 March 1928

'"The Rearguard." Picture of the Year. Longstaff's Painting', The Brisbane Courier, 29 March 1928

'"The Rearguard." Picture of Gallipoli. Sir A. Conan Doyle's Purchase', The Argus, 9 May 1928

'"The Rearguard." Will Longstaff's Work, The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 May 1928

'Psychic Force: Noted Painting Sir A. Conan Doyle Buys Picture', The Brisbane Courier, 9 May 1928

'"Psychic Picture. Novelist and Artist at Variance', The Brisbane Courier, 15 September 1928

'Australian Painter Canvases for Home, The Canberra Times, 6 July 1929

'Longstaff Paintings. Exhibition in Australia', The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 July 1929

'Longstaff Pictures. Coming to Australia', The Brisbane Courier, 6 July 1929

'For Australia: Another Longstaff Picture', The Brisbane Courier, 10 July 1929

'Paintings Shown. Mr. Longstaff's Exhibition To-day', The Argus, 4 September 1929

'Striking Pictures. Painted by Will Longstaff. TWO WAR SUBJECTS', The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 October 1929

Grey, A., Will Longstaff: Art & Remembrance, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 20 November 2001 - 10 February 2002 (exhibition catalogue)

'Acclaimed Will Longstaff Anzac Painting The Rearguard Unearthed in Antiques Auction', The Australian, 28 April 2010

Related Works:

Menin Gate at Midnight (also known as Ghosts of Menin Gate) 1927, oil on canvas, 140.5 x 272.0 cm, collection of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra

Immortal Shine (Eternal Silence) 1928, oil on canvas, 137.5 x 270.0 cm, collection of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra

Ghosts of Vimy Ridge 1931, oil on canvas, 138.0 x 270.0 cm, Canadian House of Commons Heritage Collection, Ottawa

Carillon 1932, oil on canvas, 137.0 x 269.0 cm, New Zealand National Collection of War Art, Wellington

Drake's Drum 1940, oil on canvas, Royal Collection, United Kingdom

Estimate: $100000 - 150000