Diary extracts for Apr to June 1939

29th Apr 1939:

Rex has sent Solent Fort and Staithes to the RA

May 6th

Staithes reproduced in Yorkshire Post. Solent Fort in RA Illustrated.

29th Apr 1939:

Started painting of large trees in Forest with foreground of logs (30x25) [Now in MOMA New York]

29th May 1939:

Started painting Flushing (20x24) for a show by French and English in Australia

The painting remained in the UK, we presume because of the onset of the war, and was exhibited twice at the Redfern before being bought by a private collector, who loaned it back to the Redfern in 1943 for another show.

3rd Jun 1939:

Motored to Broadchalke with Mr. and Mrs. Pope and Mavis to see Mrs. L Wood, mother of Kit Wood. Lots and lots of his paintings, and such a lovely house.

16th Jun 1939:

Finished Dunkerque, Flushing, and Forest with Huntsmen (25x30)

22nd Jun 1939:

King and Queen arrived from Canada on the Empress of Britain

We went down to see them come in escorted by craft of all kinds. A fine sight, thousands of people lining the shore.

26th Jun 1939:

Mark Gertler’s death recorded in the Times

. . . I remember when still at Bradford seeing his “Basque Shepherdess” loaned by the Contemporary Art Society. It killed everything round it, so rich and beautifully designed.