The Gift of Art
A recent donation by Michael and Maureen Harrigan helps the Museum fulfill its mission.
- By Rebecca Maksel
- AirSpaceMag.com, January 21, 2010
Painting by Robert Taylor
In Mission Beyond Darkness, the artist's note reads:
“Following the attack against Admiral Ozawa’s Japanese carrier fleet on June 20, 1944, Admiral Mitscher defies all rules of naval engagement: In total darkness, with the ever-present danger of enemy submarines, he orders every ship in his Task Force 58 to switch on lights to guide over 100 returning carrier-borne aircraft, all desperately low on fuel. Amid the confusion, unable to get a landing slot aboard the USS Lexington, and now out of fuel, a pilot and his gunner scramble from their ditched SB2B Curtiss Helldiver, as a Fletcher class destroyer manoeuvres to make the pick up.”
In Robert Taylor: Air Combat Paintings of Robert Taylor Vol. IV, the author notes, “In addition to the usual amount of research needed to identify the aircraft properly, this painting required me to become familiar with both the destroyer and the carrier before I could start work on the canvas. With the destroyer featuring so prominently, I needed to know exactly how she would have looked all those years ago. When people ask me how long it takes to complete a painting, which they often do, I believe most are referring to the time I spend at the easel. I usually try to emphasize the amount of time it takes to get to the point where I can start to put paint on canvas. Sometimes this can be almost half as much as the time spent with the brush, this painting being one that fell into that category.”
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Comments (5)
You have probably received many e-mails already, however, this is the wrong caption for this painting. EDITORS' REPLY: Thank you, to all our readers who noticed our mistake. Sorry about that. The correct art is now in place.
Posted by Andy Barbre on January 23,2010 | 06:52 PM
As to Robert Taylor's painting of the the West Virginia ablaze on December 7th shown above, if I recall correctly the 'cage masts' of those battleships shown had already been replaced by 'tripod mast" by that date.
Danny Lee
Posted by Danny Lee on January 31,2010 | 10:01 PM
Nope. painting is correct. Cage masts for USS West Virginia not removed until ship was raised and repaired after the attack. Check photos of the attack.
Posted by john fitzgerald on February 9,2010 | 03:05 PM
My son is researching Robert Taylor for his iGCSE art project. Could you tell us what type of paints and other mediums he uses?? We think he uses oils with an acrylic primer but can not find a source to confirm this. Are his drawings ink, charcoal, or pastels? Thank you! (If you could email me back that would be great as we are 12 hours ahead of you time wise)!
We wish we were close enough to come see the exhibit!
Posted by Kerry Camp on April 10,2013 | 06:16 AM