Continental Port
1939
oil on canvas
101.5h x 127w (cm)
- Vendor (from USA) at Bonham's auction / REP"My father was a chaplain on the beaches of Dunkirk. He was from Yorkshire and my mother went to Bradford School of Art, where she knew Richard Eurich. In 1951 my father used his war bonus to purchase this picture from the artist at an exhibition in Bradford. It had been exhibited at The Royal Academy in the Spring exhibition of 1948. Eurich drew my father's attention to the story the picture tells. The omen of war is depicted by the peaceful tall masted ship coming into the safety of the harbour, and a black-smoked camouflaged warship sets out. The red masted ship is a Channel Light Ship, which were all brought in to harbour in case war should break out. Eurich also placed Athena, Goddess of War overlooking the harbour, where the fishing vessels are drying out their nets. Eurich told my father that the painting was a composite from sketches he made while on a summer freighter cruise visiting the various channel ports only a month or so before war was declared. The "D" on the ships were for Dunkirk"
Provenance & Events
References:
Catalogues
- "Continental Port (1939)"; Dane Fine Art Auctions, Philadelphia, USA, pub. March 2021: Invaluable, Online auction of vintage lithographic print, Lot 1367
Other
- "PRINTS FOR THE HOME"; pub. The Print Society, 13 Grosvenor Place London SW1 (10/6) p.42 Code No. 2891, 1953
