Penleigh Boyd

Born into an artistic family in 1890, Theodore Penleigh Boyd became known as one of Australia’s leading artists before his life was tragically cut short in 1923.

After studying at the National Gallery School in Melbourne, Boyd held two exhibitions before going abroad to London and Paris to further his studies. Upon his return he continued his success, winning the Wynne prize for landscape and coming second in a competition to paint the federal capital.

Although he was largely regarded for his landscape work he is also one of Australia’s most important wartime artists. Enlisting in the AIF in 1915, Boyd was sent to France where he drew to, “occupy my time and distract my thoughts during the long hours of rumbling bombardment overhead.” The resultant works, which are collected in the book Salvage: Pictures and Impressions of the Western Front, provided a glimpse into a period of Australian wartime conflict that was not documented by other artists at the time.

One of the works, A Road in France, which was completed in August 1916, marries Boyd’s wartime work with the atmospheric landscapes he was to become so popular for.

Of this work Boyd says, “The lines of stately trees fringing the roads in France form one of the distinctive features of the country. In the golden haze of summer they cast their lean shadows across the pave, mottling with chequered patches the endless lines of transport which rumble ceaselessly over the even surface. Lorries rattle past, returning from the rail head with mutton and beef, and with golden cheeses gleaming warmly through the deep shadows, while somnolent observers shake into comparative comfort on the piled up bags of rations. Despatch riders flit precariously through the busy traffic. Officers on horseback, pack mules or limbers, an occasional big gun drawn by its caterpillar tractor, and sometimes a platoon of infantry plod through the dust and haze. Never before have these roads been subjected to such wear and tear, and it says much for the method of their construction, and the efficiency of their upkeep, that they remain in such good order.”

Boyd was gassed at Ypres and returned to Melbourne where he continued to paint, holding several more sold-out exhibitions before his death in an automobile accident in 1923.

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