Study for "Semakh"

In 2013, in preparation for the commemoration of the centenary of the First World War, the Australian War Memorial commissioned landscape artist Alexander McKenzie to paint a new background for the Memorial's Semakh diorama (ART91119). The diorama was originally made in 1926-27 and depicts the events of 25 September 1918, when the 11th Light Horse Regiment attacked the village of Semakh in Palestine.

This study was the second of four that the artist produced on site in Israel during the development of his concept for the diorama background. The work shows how McKenzie was experimenting with light for the background scene, as well as different references he incorporated into the final work. For instance, the mosque and minaret in the lower left part of the painting are based on a study by George Lambert, which was painted near the same location during Lambert's time as official war artist.