Description
ANTHONY SAUNDERS COMMEMORATES THE CENTENARY OF THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 2014
– PASSCHENDAELE 1917 –
On 28 July 1914 the unthinkable happened, a great war to ‘end all wars’ began. Four weeks earlier shots were heard on the streets of Sarajevo, and Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Hapsburg Empire, and his wife lay dead, victims of a Serb nationalist assassin. The major powers had quickly taken sides and Europe found itself heading towards the most brutal war it had known. By the time it ended, four years later, an estimated 10 million had been killed and twice that number wounded and Four Empires – the German, Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman – had ceased to exist. Europe would never be the same again.
Swamped by mud amidst a desolate, shattered landscape, men and horses of the Royal Field Artillery drag their 18 pounder field-gun towards a new position on 15 November 1917, during the final days of the Battle of Passchendaele. Whilst the army continues its grim fight on the ground, overhead Sopwith Camels from 45 Squadron Royal Flying Corps tangle in an equally deadly duel with German Albatros fighters of Jasta 6.
Flying the lead Sopwith Camel is the RFC Ace, 2nd Lt Kenneth Montgomery who scored the last of his 12 victories in this dogfight when he shot down the German Ace Leutnant Hans Ritter von Adam, the Commanding Officer of Jasta 6 with an impressive 21 victories to his name.
The Battle of Passchendaele lasted for four months and ended in November 1917.
Nearly a quarter of a million British, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand troops died while fighting for control of the ridges to the south and east of Ypres. It was a high price for victory.
To commemorate one of the most significant anniversaries in history, Anthony Saunders has created a powerful new painting portraying the bleak sacrifice made by so many heroic young men. The names of the bitter battles they endured, however, still live on a hundred years later –
Ypres, the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Arras, Loos – and one of the most savage – Passchendaele.
With one of the most dramatic images that we have ever produced, Oliver’s Art Gallery is delighted to offer collectors this extraordinarily moving piece to commemorate the historic centenary of the First World War.
Each print is individually numbered and signed by the artist
150 Artist signed prints
25 Artist Proofs
Image Size: 31½” wide x 15¾” high Overall Size: 36¼” wide x 21¼” high
THE COMMEMORATIVE REMARQUES
The perfect way to embellish this magnificent piece! Widely considered as some of the best and largest in the industry, Anthony’s unique pencil remarques are individually created in the lower margin of the print. The first edition, consisting of 25 single sized remarques similar in concept to the drawing depicted, are a perfect way for enthusiasts to collect original art.
Double Remarques
Created especially for the serious collector, these dramatic pieces are much bigger than a standard remarque and exclusively restricted to just 10 copies worldwide. The demand for these superb creations is such that we urge collectors to reserve their remarques early to avoid disappointment.
Each remarque is produced to order creating a unique and personal collectors piece and represent an excellent opportunity to acquire Anthony’s outstanding original work.
25 Remarques
10 Double Remarques
THE GICLÉE CANVAS EDITION
Produced and printed onto fine canvas using the latest digital technology, each of these carefully crafted Giclée Proofs are fully authorised and personally hand signed by artist Anthony Saunders.
Exclusively limited to just SEVENTY FIVE copies worldwide, each Canvas Proof is stamped on the back, hand-numbered and titled.
75 Giclée Studio Proofs stretched on canvas (overseas orders will be sent rolled ready for stretching)
Overall Giclée canvas size: 42” wide x 21” high.
