WWII War Pictures by British Artists, Morley Gallery, Morley College, 62 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1, until 23rd November 2016
James Hammond Harwood (1904-1980)
Barrage Balloon, 1940
Framed (ref: 7674)
Signed and dated
Watercolour
14 ¼ x 17 ¼ in. (36 x 44 cm)
It is appropriate that Liss Llewellyn Fine Art should hold this exhibition at the Morley Gallery for the College had some very beautiful British murals which were destroyed in the Blitz during the Second World War.
Mary Adshead (1904 – 1995)
Farmers ploughing, Study for The World’s Food mural, c. 1942
Framed (ref: 5282)
Signed, squared in pencil
Watercolour over pencil
4 3/8 x 7 1/2 in. (12.2 x 19 cm)
In 1939 the Ministry of Information set up the War Artists Advisory Committee (WAAC) under the chairmanship of Kenneth Clark who was the National Gallery’s Director and the WAAC were asked to ‘draw up a list of artists qualified to record the war at home and abroad’. In the end some four hundred and three artists were commissioned to record all aspects of the War.
Hubert Arthur Finney (1905-1991)
Self portrait, 1945
Framed (ref: 7654)
Pastel,
17 5/8 x 14 1/8 in. (45 x 36 cm)
An eight volume series of pocket-sized pamphlets – War Pictures by British Artists – was published in two sets of four in 1942 (War at Sea, RAF, Army, and Blitz ) and 1943 (Soldiers, Production, Air Raids and Women) to great success despite the poor quality of the printing. This exhibition includes many of these WAAC artworks as well as those produced by other artists and illustrators who were working privately.
Ethel Leontine Gabain (1883-1950)
Captain Pauline Gower of the Women’s Air Transport Auxiliary
Framed (ref: 7607)
Lithographic print from the series Women’s Work in the War (Other than the Services), published by The Ministry of Information: His Majesty’s Stationery Office
14 7/8 x 19 3/4 in. (37.8 x 50.2 cm.)
Reference: Wright supplement 314
The combination of these works provides us with an exhibition that embraces all aspects of the War and brings the period to life before our eyes. It reminds us of the debt we owe those people in the forces and at home who did their bit unflinchingly. The exhibition is accompanied by an excellent catalogue.
James Walker Tucker ((1898-1972))
Letters from Home
Framed (ref: 7671)
Signed
Watercolour on paper
14 ¼ x 20 ½ in. (36 x 52 cm)
James Woodford (1893–1976)
Dawn Chorus, 1946-7
Unframed (ref: 7581)
Original plaster maquette, with a dark green finish, signed and dated 1946-7, and (titled on a label)
17 x 16 ins. (43 x 40.5 cm)
Tim Forrest's E & A 