Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI Paintings
British, 1878-1971
Born in Cambridge in 1898 and educated at Southsea School of Art, Norman Wilkinson is known for his graphic art, specifically his British Railway poster images, and also for something quite incredible; Wilkinson revolutionized the art of naval camouflage. Having been assigned to submarine patrols in Dardanelles, Gallipoli, and Gibraltar during WWI as a member of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, Wilkinson was deeply troubled by the unprecedented success the German submarine fleet had torpedoing British ships. He hoped to find a solution to this gaping vulnerability, and in a lightning bolt moment, he had an epiphany that would change everything. Wilkinson says in his autobiography, A Brush With Life (Seeley, 1969), that he realized a ship could be painted to hide its shape against the sea and sky. In his own words, Wilkinson states that the hull of a ship could be camouflaged "not for low visibility, but in such a way as to break up her form and thus confuse a submarine officer as to the course on which she was heading." After some preliminary testing, the theory Wilkinson called "dazzle camouflage" was accepted by British Admiralty and Wilkinson was placed in charge of the naval camouflage unit. The unit, which was headquartered in the basement of the Royal Academy of Arts, consisted of Wilkinson and about two dozen "camoufleurs;" they were artists, students, model makers and consultants, including a zoologist. The dazzle schemes were tested on models and then distributed to artists who were stationed at the docks, where the ships would be painted. At the end of the war Wilkinson was formally declared the inventor of dazzle camouflage and awarded for his contribution.
Wilkinson went on to enjoy a long and celebrated career as a painter of maritime scenes, naval vessels, and warships. He served as the president of the Royal Institute of Painter in Water Colours (RI) from 1936 until 1963 (elected member in 1906); he was elected Honourable Marine Painter to the Royal Yacht Squadron in 1919, and he was a member of the Royal Society of British Artists, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, the Royal Society of Marine Artists, and the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour. In 1918 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), and a Commander of the Order (CBE) in 1948. In January 1920 he was appointed knight (chevalier) of the Belgian Order of the Crown.
Among many notable points of interest regarding Wilkinson's career is that his painting Plymouth Harbour, which was commissioned by Cunard White Star Lines for the first class smoking room of the RMS Titanic, was lost at sea when it perished with the ship. Wilkinson had also created a comparable painting entitled The Approach to the New World, for the Titanic's sister ship, the RMS Olympic. This work may be seen in the 1958 film A Night to Remember in scenes aboard the Titanic, where is served as the stand-in for Plymouth Harbor.to
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Artist: Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI
RHUDDLAN CASTLE, 20th Century Art-Deco (Artwork for Travel Poster)
By Norman Wilkinson
Located in London, GB
Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI
1878 – 1971
RHUDDLAN CASTLE
Oil on canvas, signed lower right
Image size: 30 x 45 inches (76 x 114 cm)
Hand made frame
Provenance
Commissioned by London, Mi...
Category
Early 20th Century Art Deco Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI Paintings
Materials
Oil
Tower of London
By Norman Wilkinson
Located in London, GB
Norman Wilkinson
Tower of London
Oil on canvas, signed lower left, dated June 1960 on verso
Image Size: 23 1/2 x 17 1/2 inches (59.6 x 44.5 cm)
Original gilt frame
Provenance
Tryon ...
Category
20th Century Post-War Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
The Pool of London
By Norman Wilkinson
Located in London, GB
Signed and dated '1902' lower right
Contemporary style hand made frame
Provenance:
Tryon Gallery
Private collection
In this painting we can we Blackfriars Bridge in the background reaching across the River Thames with smoke billowing up into the sky behind. On the far right the unmistakable, and instantly recognisable, silhouette of St Pauls also breaks the sky line of the city. Finished in the early 18th Century, St Pauls has been a noticeable addition to the London cityscape ever since.
This work by Wilkinson depicts 'The Pool' of London, a stretch of the River Thames from London Bridge to below Limehouse. As part of the Tideway of the Thames, the Pool was navigable by tall-masted vessels bringing coastal and oversea goods to the wharves that originally made up the Port of London. In 1909 the Pool came under the jurisdiction of the Port of London Authority. The docks here thrived until the late 1950s, despite suffering from extreme bomb damage during the Second World War.
The tall-masted ships that Wilkinson has depicted here are perfect examples of traditionally rigged sailing craft of the time. They differ from modern sailing vessels in that they did not use newer materials (such as aluminium and steel) and have more complex rigging as a result. The term tall ship later came into widespread use in the mid-20th century with the advent of Tall Ships' races. Here, incredible attention to detail has been applied by Wilkinson in the accurate depiction of the various ships rigging...
Category
20th Century English School Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI Paintings
Materials
Oil
THE BANN AT COLERAINE, Mid 20th Century Oil (Commissioned by British Railways)
By Norman Wilkinson
Located in London, GB
Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI
1878 – 1971
THE BANN AT COLERAINE
Oil on canvas, signed lower right
Image size: 30 x 44 ½ inches (76 x 113 cm)
Provenance
Commissioned by British Railways 1...
Category
Mid-20th Century Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI Paintings
Materials
Oil
The Foreshore - Dover, 20th Century Oil Landscape
By Norman Wilkinson
Located in London, GB
Norman Wilkinson
1878 - 1971
The Foreshore - Dover
Oil on canvas, signed lower left and dated 1959 on verso
Image size: 24½ x 38¾ inches
Art Deco frame
Proven...
Category
1950s Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI Paintings
Materials
Oil
HARROW SCHOOL, Art-Deco 20th Century Signed Oil and Gouache
By Norman Wilkinson
Located in London, GB
Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI
1878 – 1971
HARROW SCHOOL
Oil and gouache on paper, signed lower right
Image size: 30 × 45 inches (76 × 114 cm)
Original frame
Provenance
Commissioned by L...
Category
20th Century Art Deco Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI Paintings
Materials
Paper, Oil, Gouache
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Norman Wilkinson Cbe Pri paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of paintings to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI in oil paint, paint, board and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Art Deco style. Not every interior allows for large Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI paintings, so small editions measuring 23 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Bela Kadar, Jaro Fabry, and Francis Plummer. Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $12,909 and tops out at $35,276, while the average work can sell for $30,675.