RICK CROSSLAND
Digger
Oil on canvas
46.2 x 72.5cm
Animals often show great loyalty, courage and companionship. Qualities we admire in people, which are often distilled in times of conflict. ‘Digger’, a stray dog displayed such qualities. He was adopted by Sergeant James Martin and went to Gallipoli and the trenches in Northern France. Digger was gassed, suffered lifelong chemical burns, was shot through the mouth, went ‘over the top’ 16 times, was blinded in his right eye and lost hearing in one ear. He returned to Australia after the war and was awarded the Blue Cross on the 29th June 2019.
In this painting of Digger and the soldiers I wanted to illustrate a moment of peace, tranquility, a chance to contemplate and escape, however briefly, from the violence and horror of war. Clear, still moonlit nights create such opportunities. I painted the scene at 2.45am in the moonlight at the edge of my neighbours dam. Tones in moonlight are simplified and subtle – better observed in reality. Clothes draped on my backpack in the moonlight substituted for the live model.
This painting hints of a scene from the Gallipoli conflict, but the quiet connection it depicts between man and dog could belong to any war.
