Night Raid on Portsmouth Docks, 1941

13th May 1942: Started Portsmouth night bombing picture (30x50) “This is going to be the hell of a job, and no mistake, and will certainly take some weeks”.

20th August 1942: Portsmouth picture won’t pass the censor at present. “Damn it!”

31st March 1944: To London with ‘Bombardment of Salerno’, ‘Fortresses over Southampton’, to Admiralty. ‘Night Raid on Portsmouth’ to the RA. Tried to find frame for ‘Cecilie’.

The artist wrote (8 September 1956): ‘Painted not long after I became full time painter to the Admiralty. The drawings for this were made on the day after the heavy bombing partly due to the presence of two battleships in the harbour. The topography is pretty accurate though telescoped a bit in places. It was done from the signal tower, which explains the elevation. H.M.S. Victory can be seen over the roof tops.’

"Eurich made the drawings for this work ‘the day after the heavy bombing partly due to the presence of two battleships in the harbour’. At the centre of Eurich’s composition is a vessel from an earlier conflict: HMS Victory, Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Its presence in the composition recalls a glorious naval history amid the chaos and destruction of the Blitz."

More background notes and quotes on the Tate website referenced below. Also see below three of the sketches Richard did as references for the painting. They form a framed set titled 'Studies for the Blitz on Portsmouth", aka 'Three Studies, Portsmouth'. The set were shown at the Imperial War Museum and The Fine Art Society.

" Dear Eurich, I have just seen for the first time the picture of Portsmouth Harbour and am writing to congratulate you on so fine a painting. It is a treat to see such a picture these days amid the sordid and arid pretentiousness of the school of Paris. May many such as this spring from your hand. Sincerely yours Victor Pasmore"