Description
Object description
British official war artist in GB, France, North Africa, Italy and North West Europe, 1939-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period as officer with Royal Artillery in GB, 1939-1940: mobilisation with Territorial Army, 9/1939; receiving telegram on appointment as official war artist on Rainham Marshes, early 1940. Aspects of period as official war artist in France, 1940: relationship with military; duties as war artist; description of several paintings; memories of Barnett Freedman; evacuation from France. Aspects of period as official war artist in GB, 1940-1942: work during German air attacks; civilians in London Underground shelters; attitude towards civilian status.
REEL 2 Continues: discussion of drawings and paintings made of British Army subjects in GB; discussion of drawings made of Home Guard; drawing arrival of first United States Army troops to arrive in Northern Ireland, 1/1942. Aspects of period as official war artist in North Africa, 1942-1943: working during journey to Egypt; attachment to Rifle Brigade during Battle of El Alamein, Egypt, 10/1942; method of drawing in the front-line; opinion of Alexandria, Egypt; question of painting battle scenes.
REEL 3 Continues: witnessing breakthrough at minefields during Battle of El Alamein; sea journey to Tunisia aboard converted corvette; changes in desert landscape during spring; contrast between war in Italy and North Africa; drawings made in Tripoli, Libya; attitude toward sight of dead bodies. Aspects of period as official war artist in Italy, 1943-1944: drawings made on journey to Italy; involvement in battle during campaign in Sicily including casualties.
REEL 4 Continues: landings on Sicily, 7/1943; opinion of Italian civilians; opinion of time with Eighth Army; move to mainland Italy; visit to Naples; visit to Guards Bde on Gustav Line; destruction of civilian homes; under shell-fire. Aspects of period as official war artist in GB and Normandy, 1944: drawing Women's Royal Naval Service personnel whilst waiting to get to Normandy, France; opinion of brief period in Normandy, France. Aspects of period as official war artist in Italy, 1944: return to Italy.
REEL 5 Continues: period with Italian Partisans in Northern Italy; discussions of several drawings. Aspects of period as official war artist in Germany, 1945: fighting in Germany; opinion of Germany and Germans. Reflections on period as official war artist, 1939-1945: impact of war on art career; separation of art and propaganda; sympathy for civilians; memories of Edward Bawden; availability of materials.