WWI Vintage Air War Paintings

[RAF_Louvert 101]

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Good Morning All,

 

There are so many wonderful WWI air war paintings by newer artists, but I was wondering this AM how many of you are aware of some of the classic works "of the day". This is one of my favorites, by George Horace Davis, titled "Closing Up". It was completed in 1919 and here is the skinny on the artist, courtesy of the Imperial War Museum:

 

 

"George Horace Davis was a little-known landscape painter who served in the RAF. He had instituted the aerial manoeuvre diagrams used in training pilots in the fledgling service, and was commissioned by the Air Services sub-section of the Imperial War Museum to paint two of these manoeuvres. The difficulty inherent in painting an eye-witness account of an aerial battle, and the emphasis placed on technical details and accuracy by the Air Service sub-sections, (a common feature of IWM commissions), makes Davis' work more literal and illustrative than that of painters such as Sydney Carline or CRW Nevinson. It is not the thrill of flying or the view of the landscape from the air that interests Davis, but the heroics of the toy-like planes as they chase each other through the skies."

 

 

 

 

There are many other "classic" works from the WWI period and if you have a favorite from that era please share it with us here. And understand, I am not putting down the newer works in any way as I love many many of them as well, but in this thread if you could please keep it to paintings done during or immediately following the Great War that would be ideal.

 

Cheers!

 

Lou

 

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[Rickitycrate 10]

yes, a classic piece Lou. I have a print of "Closing Up" that I need to get mounted and framed. If it were a modern piece one might think it exaggerated. Since it is almost contemporary and by one who served I appreciate it all the more. Rather reminds me of some OFF encounters.

[Olham 164]

Not sure if it's an early original, but after the name Bertram Sandy, it seems to say "1918" or "1919".

 

 

[Dej 17]

How about the 'first aviation artist' Henri Farre...

 

 

Sorry I couldn't find any larger or better resolution images.

[RAF_Louvert 101]

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Dej, Farre's work is outstanding and he did indeed pioneer the genre. That portrait of Guynemer is one of my favorites of his.

 

Olham, that Handley Page painting by American artist Bertram Sandy is another good one. He did one called "The Scrap" which I like too, (though I don't have a copy of it to post at the moment).

 

Rickitycrate, you really should get that copy framed and up on the wall of your flying room. And I agree, it does remind one of OFF encounters.

 

 

 

Here is another contemporary work I've liked for a long time, done by Austrian artisit Max Edler von Poosch; from 1917, it is titled: "Kampfstaffel D3, über der Brenta-Gruppe" (D3 Squadron over the Brenta):

 

 

 

 

Keep 'em coming Gents.

 

Cheers!

 

Lou

 

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[Olham 164]

??? Can't see a picture?

[Dej 17]

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... That portrait of Guynemer is one of my favorites of his.

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On the matter of portraits here is another, by Denholm Davis, whose subject featured in other paintings by Bertram Sandy and who needs no introduction.

 

I find it extremely poignant, he looks so very young, as indeed he was.