Three Aircraft by C.R.W. Nevinson, oil on canvas

This painting represents three Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft flying in formation in a cloudy sky over the British landscape during the Battle of Britain.

It is one of three aerial-themed paintings Christopher Nevinson submitted in November 1940 for the War Artists’ Advisory Committee (WAAC) to purchase as an artistic record of the Second World War. Like Paul Nash, Nevinson had been a famed artist of the First World War when his work was abstract in style and celebrated the theme of mechanised warfare. However, after abandoning abstraction for subjects painted in a more naturalistic style, reviews of his work became less favourable. The WAAC declined to purchase this painting. Purchased in 1974. Artist copyright: expired / RAF Museum.