Pub paintings were painted on sized paper and coated with varnish. When the
varnish was tacky it was stuck to the reverse of the glass and rolled with a
roller to remove air bubbles. The paper was then removed with water. When the
back was dry it was covered with an overcoat. Lettering, borders and gilding
was applied to the reverse of the glass before the painting was applied.

Commissioned by Tooth & Co Limited in 1936 as one of a set of 4 advertising paintings for the newly rebuilt Ship Inn at Circular Quay. It was produced by the Henry Rousel Studio in Oxford Street in Darlinghurst. The artwork was done by one of Rousel's 'in-house' artists, probably Stanley Denford or Lyall Trindall. It depicted one of the many liners then bringing migrants to Australia. By 1957 having endured 21 years of the afternoon sun some of the paint was lifting from the glass and Tooth's commissioned R.B. Coleman signs to 'renovate' it. This process involved removing and replacing the loose paint. Some changes usually resulted. In this case, some of the detail of the bridge seems to have been painted out, as was the "H.Rousel" signature.

Commissioned in 1936 and reworked in 1957

In 1985 the Ship Inn was closed and demolished, apart from the external walls which now form part of the Gateway building. In 1987 the painting was offered for sale by a Balmain dealer, as was bought by the vendor. During 1989 the vendor contracted Ms Karen Coote of the Australian Museum to conserve the painting. Ms Coote stabilised the painting.

Pub painting, advertising, framed, 'Tooth's KB Lager', Circular Quay, painted glass / wood, Henry Rousel Studio / R B Coleman Signs, Australia, 1936-1957.
Rectangular panel of glass, reverse painted in oil paint and gold leaf, rounded corners at top. Depicts Sydney's Circular Quay, large ocean liner at left, with Harbour Bridge in background, harbour ferry at right foreground. Amber and gold border. Text at upper edge of painting in block letters in red, outlined in gold. Framed in MAAS wooden frame.

Made: Denford, Stanley; Sydney; 1936 - 1957

Made: Trindall, Lyall; Sydney; 1936 - 1957

Made: Ship Inn; Sydney; 1936 - 1957

Made: Tooth & Co Limited; Sydney; 1936 - 1957

Made: Henry Rousel Studio; Sydney; 1936 - 1957

Made: R B Coleman Signs; Sydney; 1936 - 1957


Owned: Ship Inn; Sydney

Trademark painted on reverse of painting, text in red with gold border, "TOOTH'S K B LAGER"

90/595

1936 - 1957

1585 mm

1050 mm