BONE (Sir Muirhead, 1876-1953, Water-colour Painter & Etcher, War Artist)

Fine Autograph Letter Signed to Charles REILLY (1874-1948, Head of the Liverpool School of Architecture) saying that he has "been working in the West of Scotland and have now transferred to the East. Weather very cold & east windy & the artist not so young as he was. But it is very quiet here at present which is a great blessing. Of course I'd be very glad to oblige you or your friend in any way i could. But my position is that every sketch I do and its copyright belongs to the Admiralty and I have no power at all to give any 'permissions'! I feel sure some sketch of mine would be available for the 'calendar' purpose ... for a small fee. The Admiralty and Ministry of Information work together in the matter ... I send all my drawings direct to Gleadowe (Admiralty, Whitehall) & that is the end of the matter as far as I am concerned. I sent Gleadowe lately a number of drawings - feel sure you would find a suitable one amongst them. Ask him or Francis about it. Your house is certainly delightful and I much want to see it. My prayers for it escaping the bombs ...", next to his signature he has put "(Major Sir Muirhead Bone R.M.)", 2 sides 8vo., with original autograph envelope, Admiral Superintendent's House, Rosyth, Dunfermline, 14th October

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Muirhead Bone was appointed a member of the War Artists' Advisory Committee and also became a full-time salaried artist to the Ministry of Information specialising in Admiralty subjects. He produced scenes of coastal installations, evacuated troops and portraits of officers. However, following the death of his son Gavin in 1942, he decided not to continue with the Admiralty commission but he did remain an active Committee member until the end of the war. His other son, Stephen Bone, was subsequently appointed to the vacant Admiralty position.

Item Date:  1940

Stock No:  39196      £225

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