| Accession No |
1995.41.4
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| Name/Title |
PHOTOGRAPH; Mr Eugene Sandow examining State School Boys
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| Brief Description |
A black & white photograph mounted on card showing Mr Eugene Sandow examining State School Boys at Wanganui, November 1902. Image shows a group of boys dressed in white tops and shorts on a large grassed area. The boys are all in a squat position with both arms out parallel to their shoulders. Mr Sandow and another man watch the boys. Children in school uniform are watching the display and a school buildings and trees are in the background.
Eugene Sandow was considered to be the father of modern body building. Mr Sandow developed an exercise system using dumb-bells and controlled breathing, and in his day was considered not only to be one of the world’s strongest men but also the world’s best developed man. He toured the world displaying his legendary feats of physical strength. Sandow made sure that the appearance of his physique remained an integral part of this performance and no performance was complete without a dramatic disrobing and display of muscular poses performed in minimal attire.
Sandow visited Wanganui in late 1902 as a guest of Mr Jarrett who was the conductor of the local school of physical culture in St Hill Street. During his stay in Wanganui Mr Sandow visited Collegiate School. Here he inspected No. 1 squad who went through the series of dumb-bell and breathing exercise. Mr Sandow manifested a great interest in the boys and said that he ‘had never seen such a fine lot of boys’. After inspecting the boys Mr Sandow and the Collegiate masters adjourned to the big school where half-a-dozen of the adult members of the school were examined by Mr Sandow who, after stating that the task of judging was most difficult on account of the excellent development of each man, decided in favour of Mr Fred Atkins as the best physically developed man. Fred Atkins went on in 1907 to receive a silver medal for the best developed man over 18 years in a world-wide competition.
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| Classification |
Print, Photographic/Documentary Artifact/Communication Artifacts/Nomenclature
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| Primary Maker |
Partington, William Henry Thomas (b.1855, d.1940)
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| Primary Prod Date |
Nov 1902
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| Primary Prod Period |
20th century
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| Primary Prod Place |
Wanganui
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| Measurement Reading |
25 x 30cm
14 x 20cm
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| Signature/Marks |
Mr Eugen Sandow / Examining State School Boys / At Wanganui in Novr 1902
Partington Wanganui NZ
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