[Two Gallipoli soldiers in battle]

Place Middle East: Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli
Accession Number ART91312
Collection type Art
Measurement Overall: 52.2 x 63.8 cm
Object type Work on paper
Physical description textile dye, coloured crayon on coated paper
Maker Nolan, Sidney
Place made United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London
Date made June 1962
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
Creative Commons License This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
Description

Two naked Gallipoli soldiers in combat with orange, blue and yellow streaks in background. The soldiers wrestling relates to classical images from Ancient Greece as well as the black figure pottery of the 7th century BC. Black figure pottery usually represented the Gods or the heroes of Greek history and mythology engaged in scenes of battle and hunting. When the Anzac's arrived at Gallipoli, many British officers were awestruck when faced with the tall, bronzed Anzac's that reminded them of the Greek heroes and gods. Much was written by the British officers and soldiers about this resemblance at the time.