Watercolour and pen and ink

Signed with initials

28.00 x 19.00cm (11.02 x 7.48 inches)

Barbara Eustace (granddaughter of Hilaire Belloc), who purchased the watercolour from the Royal Academy exhibition in 1969, and thence by descent.

London, Royal Academy Summer Exhibitiion, 1969, no.246

A watercolourist, illustrator and writer, Ardizzone was educated at Clayesmore School and studied art at evening classes at the Westminster School of Art under Bernard Meninsky (1921-26). In 1927 he became a free-lance artist and illustrator supplying work for the Radio Times and Strand Magazine. He illustrated his first book in 1929 and became one of the country’s best-loved and most prolific book artists of the mid 20th century. His first one-man show was held at the Leger Galleries in 1931 and thereafter he was a frequent exhibitor in London. He was an official war artist during World War II and taught at Camberwell School of Art and the Royal College of Art. A retrospective exhibition was held at the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1974.