Place | Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Albert |
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Accession Number | ART19548 |
Collection type | Art |
Measurement | sheet: 45.4 x 36 cm; image: 43 x 29.8 cm |
Object type | Work on paper |
Physical description | pen and ink over pencil on cardboard |
Maker |
Stewart, James Warren |
Place made | Australia, France: Picardie, Somme, Albert |
Date made | unknown |
Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright unknown |
Albert 1914
Depicts the Albert Cathedral in France before it was destroyed by artillery fire. Albert was central to the First Battle of the Somme. During the war, the statue of Mary on top of the church was hit by a shell and was put in a horizontal position and was left hanging precariously. The Germans claimed that whoever made the statue fall from the church, would lose the war. Some time after, the Germans captured the town and used the church tower as an outpost. British artillery fired at the church because it was an outpost and a shell hit the Mary statue which fell from the church tower. The Germans were happy and believed the British would lose the war. This is one of 5 pen and ink reproductions of original pencil drawings by Sapper James Warren Stewart from his sketchbook. See ART19545.022. Whereabouts of the original sketchbook is unknown.