Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 2019-2020 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
1 item, 4 canvases
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Repository
Archival history
The Arras paintings stem mostly from the landscapes around Vimy Ridge. The remarkable monument on top of the ridge, designed by Walter Seymour Allward, can be seen on the horizon behind the paintings. Most of the studies made in Arras depicted trees, but despite repeated attempts to include them in this painting they had to be removed. The focus of the image, instead, is the ridge itself, drawn from this spot very hurriedly.
Initial work in this location was done when the field had just been ploughed and was devoid of crops - rather different from when the finished paintings returned to the site.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The Unknown Warrior was chosen for Westminster Abbey in 1920, from four unknown warriors who fought for Britain during the First World War, and who died in four different battle areas. In the summer of 2017 the artist spent time in the four locations (the Aisne, the Somme, Arras and Ypres), making studies of the landscapes as they are now. This oil painting is one of a series of four stemming from these visits. This painting has been made across four separate canvases, one for each unknown warrior and each canvas is the same size as a Commonwealth War Grave (2 ft 6 in. in height and 1 ft 3 in. in width).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access to collection items is granted to bona-fide researchers, by prior appointment, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including Data Protection.
Conditions governing reproduction
A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the item. Copies are supplied in accordance with Westminster School
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Final
Level of detail
Partial
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
- Latin
Sources
Digital object metadata
Filename
PIC_03_078.jpg
Latitude
Longitude
Media type
Image
Mime-type
image/jpeg