Lone Pine

Places
Accession Number ART41017
Collection type Art
Measurement Overall: 380 x 880 x 510 cm; height of largest figure: 48 cm; height of smallest figure: 18 cm
Object type Diorama
Physical description figures: oil, wax on lead; background: synthetic polymer paint with oil and gold leaf on plywood; modelling: dry colour on plaster over wood and wire
Location Main Bld: First World War Gallery: The Anzac Story: Gallipoli: Lone Pine
Maker Anderson, Wallace
McCubbin, Louis Frederick
Place made Australia: Victoria, Melbourne
Date made 1924 -1927
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

This diorama depicts the attack of the Turkish position known as Lone Pine on 6 August 1915. As the sun was sinking behind Imbros and Samothrace, the Anzacs made their determined charge against the enemy's position. The trenches were roofed over with pine-logs which the Australians tore away and then lowered themselves down to be met by the waiting enemy. Others, too impatient to rip away the logs, gained entry through the sally-ports and the breaches made by the bombardments. The position was captured within twenty minutes and held after four days of counter-attack and 2000 casualties. Work began on the Lone Pine diorama in 1924. It is likely that when first exhibited in Melbourne the figures were originally made of plasticine which were cast in metal at a later date. Louis McCubbin painted the original figures, background and modelling. The background was repainted according to the orginal design by Louis McCubbin, by George Browning, first in 1953-54 and again in 1982 assisted by Rob Slater. Browning was assisted on the second occasion by his wife, Joan and Slater.