Australian Present Day Art. Edited by Sydney Ure Smith
Sydney Ure Smith (1887-1949)
Category
Books
Date
1943
Materials
Place of origin
Australia
Collection
Chartwell, Kent
NT 3133396
Summary
This book contains selections from the work of thirteen artists at present living in Australia. Book gifted by: John Curtin Book Inscription Signature: John Curtin (Prime Minister Australia) Book Inscription: To Winston Churchill in admiration & affection on behalf of the Government & people of the Commonwealth of Australia Date of Inscription: May 13, 1944
Full description
**The Inscribed Books Collection, to which this book belongs, consists of gift inscriptions on third party books given to Sir Winston Churchill from friends, family, and well-wishers, unsolicited presentation copies of books by strangers, as well as presentation copies from authors who were genuine friends and colleagues. After his death in January 1965, Churchill personally bequeathed the collection via his Will as a testament to his national and international achievements. 'Australian Present Day Art' contains selections from the work of thirteen artists who lived in Australia at the time. Published by Ure Smith in 1944, it was compiled by Sydney George Ure Smith (9 January 1887 - 11 October 1949), a British-born publisher and artist who had live in Australia since he was two years old. He was influential in promoting Australian art to a broader public during the first half of the twentieth century. In 1906 he founded the advertising company of Smith and Julius, incorporating quality art and design with technically advanced printing. Ure Smith then founded the periodicals 'Art in Australia' (1916) and 'Home' (1920) and established the publishing company Ure Smith Pty Ltd in 1934, producing numerous texts of key significance to Australian art. President of the Society of Artists 1921–48, trustee of the Art Gallery of New South Wales 1927–47, patron of many artists, and active in numerous positions of influence.
Bibliographic description
112p.,plates . ill.. . 8vo.. Shelflist entry - state unknown. Provenance: Inscribed "To Winston Churchill in admiration & affection on behalf of the Government & people of the Commonwealth of Australia John Curtin (Prime Minister Australia) May 13, 1944". Binding: black leather.
Provenance
The book was gifted to Churchill by the Australian politician and statesman, John Curtin (8 January 1885 - 5 July 1945) who at the time was the Prime Minister of Australia. Curtin was leader of the Australian Labour Party from 1934 to 1945, and was Sworn of the Privy Council in 1942. He inscribed the copy with his signature as well as a message, dated 13 May 1944, addressed to Churchill whcih reads: "To Winston Churchill in admiration & affection on behalf of the Government & people of the Commonwealth of Austrailia" As a wartime leader of one of Britain’s Commonwealth allies, Curtin had lots of communication with Churchill. On 5 May, the latter hosted a meeting of the Dominion Prime Ministers at 10 Downing Street, which was attended by Curtin. On the 13 May Churchill visited Cosham on the south coast where he and his guests were taken on a tour of inspection of the naval preparations for D-Day at Spithead and Southampton Water. During this trip Curtinreceived the Freedom of the City of London.
Makers and roles
Sydney Ure Smith (1887-1949)