ALLCOT, JOHN O.B.E. (1888-1973)

“Palm Beach From Patonga (Barrenjoey Point)” (1934)
Gouache
28 x 38cm
Signed lower left
*private collection, Sydney
 
Allcot was born in Liverpool & studied Fine Art at the Liverpool Institute & School of Art. Arriving in Sydney in 1909, he signed on with the old clipper, Antiope. He worked in coastal, island & intercolonial vessels out of Sydney before giving up the sea in 1912. Allcot gained widespread recognition in the 1920s with a series of oil paintings (on the founding of the Australian colonies) which were later acquired by the Australasian Pioneers' Club. He also worked as an illustrator & wrote articles about the sea for the Sydney Mail. Allcot's painting of the Cutty Sark was presented to the Duke of Edinburgh in 1954. Allcot exhibited landscapes & still lifes at Beard, Watson & Co; his paintings of ships were shown at Underwood Galleries & San Francisco Maritime Museum, United States of America. In Sydney he held a successful exhibition at Proud's Art Gallery to celebrate the bicentenary of James Cook's landing in Australia. His work was prolific & romantic. At a time of great change in the shipping industry, he specialized in nostalgic views of sailing ships & steamers, & found an appreciative market of ship-owners, captains, crews and their families. While best known for his ships, he continued to enjoy painting landscapes. A fellow of the Royal Art Society, a member of the League of Ancient Mariners & of the Shiplovers' Society. He was an honorary life member of the Australasian Pioneers' Club & appointed O.B.E. in 1970.