With thanks to Paul Simadas who found this artist for us
Born Vasco Loureiro in Brixton, London, UK he grew up in Melbourne, Australia – the family emigrated in 1885. Vasco studied art at the National Gallery of Victoria from 1902-1905. His father, Artur Jose Loureiro (1853 – 1932) was an accomplished artist, originally from Portugal and his Mother was Maria Theresa Loureiro, nee Huybers who was born in England but brought up in Tasmania. Maria was the sister of novelist Jessie Catherine Couvreur, whose pen name was Tasma.
Vasco later moved to Sydney, drawing caricatures for a shilling for ferry passengers. After his mother died in 1907 he sailed to America, where he again used his skill to draw a face in a few simple lines on a postcard. He also travelled to Europe and Papua New Guinea, retuning to Australia before the conflict began. In 1908-1909 Vasco was in Panama while the Panama Canal was being constructed. He earnt a living by doing caricatures. He was also curious about the construction of the canal and the people involved.
Louis Vasco enlisted as a Sapper, or engineer, in the Australian Engineers Regiment but his calling was art. He married Gwendolyn Dunlop around the time he enlisted in Brisbane on 11th May 1916. His original typed attestation form stated he was not married and she was his ‘lady friend’. The form had been adjusted to a ‘yes’ for marriage and to his ‘trade or calling’ of ‘caricature artist’ was added ‘and draftsman’.
Louis always seemed to find time to sketch. On enlistment he drew himself in his new uniform, discarding his trademark checked trousers (see above image). Vasco left Australia for Devonport, England on 11th November 1916, arriving some 80 days later on the troopship Suevic. On the troopship, he spent his time sketching his fellow soldiers onboard.:
Once in France, Vasco was so inspired, he took out his watercolours and filled letters to his wife Gwendolyn with charming French farmyard scenes. He promised to bring her to France ‘après la guerre’ (after the war).
As part of the 11th Field Company Engineers,Vasco's responsibility included constructing the lines of defence, temporary bridges, tunnels and trenches, observation posts, roads, railways, communication lines. They were also involved in constructing buildings, showering and bathing facilities.
Louis Vasco reported sick in early May 1918 and, after initial treatment in the 47th Hospital in France, was transferred to England where he was hospitalised in the Middlesex War Hospital in St Albans, north of London.
One of Louis Vasco’s last drawings was a self-portrait drawn when he was in hospital in France and dated two months prior to his death on 3rd August 1918 - “A study in blues, Vasco on the rocks”:
