4389 WWII ERA WATERCOLOR OF AN OIL REFINERY BY NOTED

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 400.00 USD
Estimated at 800.00 - 1,200.00 USD
WAR ARTIST JOHN WORSLEY. This exceptional watercolor has a sight size of 26 1/2" x 19 3/4", and a frame size of 32 3/4" x 26". The palette of the watercolor is mostly earth tones with some green depicting trees, and light blue/gray utilized to show water & sky. The subject matter is an oil refinery on, what is assumed to be, the North African coast somewhere near Algiers. The oil refinery is quite substantial in size, having over 60 storage tanks with two separate refinery areas. There is a railroad line with two separate tank car trains shown, along with ships at port, presumably transporting oil to far-off allied ports. There is a passenger liner in the background that was likely pressed into service as a troop transport. The artist is quite skillful in depicting detail without getting lost in minutiae. The watercolor is signed in the lower right-hand corner, "John Worsley 49". John Worsley was born in Liverpool, England, the son of a retired officer of the Royal Navy. He grew up in Kenya where his father ran a coffee plantation and, upon his return to England, attended Goldsmiths College in London. Shortly after graduation, he became a midshipman in the Navy and became one of the youngest war artists to take part in the war. He was present at the allied landings in Sicily and the Italian mainland. On a mission near the Adriatic Coast, he was taken prisoner by Germans and sent to Marlag-O. While incarcerated, he assembled an impressive portfolio of life in a prisoner war camp. He also forged papers for escape and created the famous dummy prisoner, Albert RN. His exploits in the German war prison were later turned into a feature film. After the war, he enjoyed an illustrious career and was named President of the Royal Society of Marine Artists. This lot is accompanied by a map of the Mediterranean coast of Algeria, along with overlay maps of topographical details. The maps accompanied the watercolor when purchased by the consignor. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: a book, published in 1993, titled "JOHN WORSLEY'S WAR", that tells the story of one of England's most famous war artists. Also included is photocopied information on John Worsley and his art, along with a letter written from the consignor. CONDITION: the watercolor remains quite nice with a slight water stain at the lower left. The frame shows light overall wear. The maps also show light wear. (02-21027/BF). $800-1,200.