Eric Ravilious (1903-1943)

Ravilious received his commission as an Official War Artist at the outbreak of the Second World War. His third posting which commenced in February 1942 was to the Vale of York to work with aircraft. He found the planes inspiring, intrigued by their seemingly fragile appearance. The present work, with the aircraft outlined simply in pencil, emphasises their vulnerability. Tragically the artist was lost in an air-sea rescue mission off the coast of Iceland from which he failed to return.