Down on His Luck

"Down on His Luck" is an evocative painting from 1889 by Australian artist Frederick McCubbin. The artwork depicts a down-and-out swagman sitting by a campfire in the Australian bush, lost in thought about his tough luck. Despite the hardships etched on his face, there is no trace of self-pity. Instead, he wears a somewhat casual, even slightly cynical, expression. McCubbin captures the essence of the Australian spirit, using muted tones in the surrounding bush to reflect the somber mood.

The model for this painting was Louis Abrahams, a friend of McCubbin and a successful tobacconist from Melbourne. The scene was set near the Box Hill artists' camp outside Melbourne, although it is believed that McCubbin might have done additional studies of Abrahams in a studio setting.

Initially owned by William Fergusson, the painting found a new home in the Art Gallery of Western Australia in Perth in 1896. It is celebrated for its poignant depiction of the Australian landscape and the deep emotional resonance of the swagman character.