Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Eric William Ravilious died in 1942; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 2012.
In context
Bomb Defusing Equipment — Eric William Ravilious
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 39 at death.
Painted when the artist was 37. The artist lived to 39. 2 of the 7 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.
Shaded: the lifetime of Eric William Ravilious (1903–1942) ▲ this work, 1940 every dated painting, decade by decade
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
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Measured from the image
Main colour
Rosy Brown #bbb397
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 7 works by this artist, of which 1 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Acton, United Kingdom
Born on July 22, 1903, in Acton, London, Eric William Ravilious spent much of his formative years in Sussex.
His parents ran an antiques shop, which likely fostered his early appreciation for design and the vernacular arts.
He was educated at Eastbourne Municipal Secondary School for Boys before winning a scholarship to Eastbourne School of Art.
In 1922, he furthered his studies at the Design School of the Royal College of Art, where he formed a close friendship with fellow artist Edward Bawden.
Ravilious’s artistic style developed as a unique blend of modernist principles and a deep engagement with English landscape and traditional art forms.
He was influenced by the work of Paul Nash, particularly in his depictions of the English countryside imbued with a sense of mystery and history.
The clarity and precision of his wood engravings were also shaped by the Arts and Crafts movement’s emphasis on craftsmanship.
His early works often featured watercolors of the South Downs and Castle Hedingham, showcasing his meticulous attention to detail and distinctive color palette.
Ravilious began teaching part-time at both Eastbourne School of Art and the Royal College of Art, supplementing his income while pursuing his artistic endeavors.
In 1930, he married Eileen Lucy “Tirzah” Garwood, who was also an artist and engraver; they had three children together.
He became known for his watercolors depicting English landscapes, interiors, and scenes of everyday life with a distinctive modernist sensibility.
Notable works include Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway, The Red House on the Hill, and numerous book illustrations and wood engravings.
During World War II, Ravilious was commissioned as an official war artist by the Air Ministry.
He documented scenes of wartime Britain, including aircraft maintenance, coastal defenses, and life on military bases.
His wartime paintings offer a unique perspective on the conflict, focusing on the everyday realities of those supporting the war effort rather than dramatic battle scenes.
Tragically, Ravilious died in 1942 while serving as a war artist with the Royal Air Force; his plane went missing over Iceland.
Despite his relatively short life, Eric Ravilious left a lasting impact on British art.
His work is celebrated for its unique clarity, precise technique, and evocative depictions of English landscape and culture.
He helped to bridge the gap between modernist aesthetics and traditional subject matter, creating a distinctly English artistic vision.
Ravilious’s paintings and engravings are held in major museum collections, including the Tate and the Victoria & Albert Museum, ensuring his continued recognition and appreciation by art lovers worldwide.
His work continues to inspire artists today, offering a poignant reminder of a bygone era and a testament to the power of observation and artistic skill.
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Look closely
Bomb Defusing Equipment — Eric William Ravilious
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Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
A print of "Bomb Defusing Equipment" by Eric William Ravilious can be ordered directly on its Fine Art Print page: a fine art print on cotton canvas or archival canvas paper.
The dominant hue of "Bomb Defusing Equipment" by Eric William Ravilious is green to violet spectrum. The hue is the underlying tone of the palette.
"Bomb Defusing Equipment" by Eric William Ravilious can be downloaded from the artwork's Download page, as a high-resolution digital image download.