DescriptionWatercolour, 1939. The cliffs of Southern England are, of course, iconic of England as a whole – even the name ‘Albion’, the oldest name for the Island of Britain, may derive from the whiteness of the chalk. This is the lighthouse which, in 1902, replaced Belle Tout, still standing today but now converted into a house. Ravilious is fascinated by the light in this picture, and graphically creates several triangular planes from light, sea and land. The picture was exhibited to acclaim soon after its creation at Arthur Tooth and Sons’ Gallery in New Bond Street, London, and it was after this exhibition that Ravilious was commissioned as a war artist to paint his now famous series of coastal views.
