Thread by @Ravilious1942

Today is #VEDay when we remember the end of the war in Europe. Eric Ravilious never survived to see that Peace, & for his wife Tirzah, it left her a widow. War always means Lost Lives, unfulfilled paths, but Ravilious left behind such a legacy, so let’s see some of it from #WW2

At the beginning of #WW2 Eric Ravilious joined the Royal Observer Corps whose job it was to spot for enemy planes & had a vital role in the Battle of Britain. He painted this Observer’s Post in 1939. Original in @higginsbedford collection.

Ravilious was then given an Honorary Commission in the Royal Marines and was appointed an Official War Artist. In 1940/41 he did a lot of work in #Kent & #Sussex. This was entitled Bombing the Channel Ports (1941) and shows a Sound Mirror in #Kent. Original in @I_W_M collection.

Ravilious also went with the Royal Navy to Norway in April 1940 and produced some amazing work like this: Norway (1941). The original is in @LaingArtGallery collection.

Newhaven in #Sussex was always a Ravilious favourite and this painting of Newhaven Fort was entitled Searchlight at Dusk (1941). Original in @BM_AG collection.

He then went on to work with the Royal Air Force and produced work like Spitfires On A Camouflage Runway (1942). Original in @I_W_M collection.

Ravilious’ amazing Runway Perspective (1942) also dates from this time at #RAF Sawbridgeworth, #Hertfordshire.

Ravilious’ work was always diverse and he painted a whole series of works about Submarines. This is Submarines in Dry Dock, original in the @Tate collection.

He was then posted to #RAF Coastal Command. This is De-icing Aircraft (1942) and is in the @I_W_M collection. Posted to Iceland, the aircraft he was travelling in during a rescue mission went missing and he was killed. His body was never found.

Eric Ravilious is today commemorated by @CWGC on the Chatham Naval Memorial in #Kent. It overlooks places he once painted, which is somehow apt. Eric is just one life we remember today on #VEDay. As I’ve said before, for me his work depicts a past, but also lights a future, too.