Peter Mcintyre 2nd NZEF War Drawings 1941 - 1944
Jonathan Grant Galleries
Captain Peter McIntyre at the Battle of Sidi Rezegh, 18th December 1941 Collection: War History Collection. Alexander Turnbull Library, NZ Illustrated front cover: Capt. Peter McIntyre, New Zealand Official War Artist at work on the Cassino battlefront, Italy 5th April 1944 Photograph: George Kaye. Collection: War History Collection. Alexander Turnbull Library, NZ
Peter Mcintyre 2nd NZEF War Drawings 1941 - 1944
The Colvin Collection
Jonathan Grant Galleries 280 Parnell Road Auckland New Zealand Telephone +64 9 308 9125
www.jonathangrantgalleries.com ISBN 978-0-473-17762-1
Peter McIntyre War Artist. 2NZEF War Drawings 1941-1944 Peter McIntyre was appointed war artist for the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Forces (2NZEF) by General Bernard Freyberg on 1 January 1941. As a graduate from the Slade School of Art in London (1931-1934), he was ideally suited to the task of recording the 2NZEF’s campaigns in Crete, North Africa and Italy. The teaching programme at the Slade stressed life drawing and draughtsmanship based upon the ‘old masters,’ including Raphael, Rembrandt and Watteau, encouraging students to draw vigorously, building up sketches by observing the broad planes of the model. Like all undergraduates, McIntyre began by copying Antique casts before working in the life room and drawing the figure by means of ‘ovals or eggs. ’ He thrived in this environment, graduating with prizes in composition and figure drawing. McIntyre recalled; ‘at the Slade you really learned to draw in a classical manner and you know I’ve always been convinced that no one can be a really good painter until he’s learned how to draw and to draw well and truly.1 He was also conscious that he belonged to an impressive tradition of Slade graduates whose proficiency accounted for a significant number of war artists during the First World War. The list included; Augustus John, Paul Nash and William Orpen. Certainly, in his sketches of New Zealand officers and soldiers, McIntyre’s training is evident in his handling of volume and mass, the clarification of the underlying structure of his figures and the complexity of their character and personality. McIntyre’s earliest drawings are of the New Zealand soldier’s life in Maadi camp. Reproduced in the army publication, Parade, Freyberg also valued and encouraged the comradeship that McIntyre captured in these works. Just as war artist Christopher Nevinson had revealed the distinctive personality of the British soldier, McIntyre rose to the challenge in sketches of New Zealanders often brewing tea or playing cards. In these and other drawings, McIntyre also rediscovered his identity. He later recalled his experience of meeting a conscript, the first New Zealander he had seen in nine years absence, on the train to Aldershot in 1940: His hair was cut short above the ears with crisp waves on top.... His face was drawn as if he had been looking into the sun... “Gooday, [sic] how’s she going?” he said, and my nine years of exile melted away.2
As war artist McIntyre also rapidly learnt the most practical methods of gathering information in battle, making short hand notes and tonal sketches for finished paintings back at army camp. When he arrived in Crete on 14 May 1941 the German Luftwaffe had begun bombing the New Zealand camp and McIntyre’s sketch of the terrain provides the sort of topographical detail that informed paintings such as General Hospital Crete (Archives New Zealand, AAAC 898, NCWA 301). McIntyre was equally adept at summarising the changing light of the North African and Italian landscape. The working study for Mobile Showers Beside an Ancient Well, Tunisia 1943, (AAAC 898 NCWA 80) records the NZEF’s camp in a confident and summary tonal sketch. Similarly, his drawing of An Italian Village Under Shellfire, May 1944, provides an insight into his painting, with the composition for the finished work already formed in the drawing (AAAC 898 NCWA 283). In 1976 McIntyre reflected on his time as war artist: I think my two and a half years in the Western Desert with the New Zealand Division were the best times in my whole life in the company of men.... To me the New Zealand Division in those days was a superb thing. Men at their best in extraordinary circumstances.3 Over the period in which he served with the 2NZEF, McIntyre’s paintings and sketches perceptively conveyed the routine and harsh reality of war. Testimony to the authority of these familiar and dramatic narratives of the New Zealand soldier, his sketches and paintings continue to define New Zealand’s memory and experience of the Second World War today. Dr. Warren Feeney
1 2
3
Encounter, 1976, Wellington: Television New Zealand Archives. Peter McIntyre, The Painted Years, Wellington: A. H. & A. W. Reed, 1962, p. 57. Encounter, 1976.
Illustrated detail: Official war artist, Peter McIntyre. Collection: War History Collection. Alexander Turnbull Library, NZ 4 Peter McIntyre
Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) 2nd NZEF Infantry Graphite on paper, 29 x 20 cm
Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) Italian Village Under Shellfire, May 1944 Graphite on paper, 31 x 20 cm Ref: Oil painting illustrated in Peter McIntyre: War Artist p. 201. NCWA 283
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Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) 2nd NZEF Camp, Crete, 1941 Graphite on paper, 20 x 30 cm
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Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) Mobile Showers Beside an Ancient Well, Tunisia 1943 Graphite on paper, 19 x 31 cm Ref: Watercolour illustrated The Art of War, Jennifer Haworth p. 136. NCWA 80
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Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) Sgt. F. W. Smoothy, 5th Fld Amb. Graphite on paper, 28.5 x 19.5 cm Inscribed: 'From Wilton. Sailor with Red Cross in Spain & in China. With Byrd to Antarctic & twice to America, had dinner with President on your birthday. One trip on a whaler. Served in all campaigns.'
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Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) Capt. D. J. Parsons, 4th Bde Graphite on paper, 30 x 20 cm, signed lower right Inscribed: South Canterbury Rep.
Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) Sgt. Major F. D. Martin, Auckland. Graphite on paper, 27 x 18 cm Inscribed: ‘Div. HQ. Greece, Crete, etc. Chief Clerk 5th Division.’
Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) Lieut. J. L. Williams MC. 25th Btn. Graphite on paper, 32 x 20.5 cm Inscribed: 'School teacher from the Wairarapa. Stalked tank with portée. Won the M.C. at Hamana for "tank busting" exploit.'
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Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) Playing Cards Graphite on paper, 20 x 31 cm
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Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) Portrait of a Soldier Graphite on paper, 24 x 18 cm
Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) Brigadier L.M. Inglis CBE. 4th Bde. Graphite on paper, 27 x 19 cm
Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) Lieutenant Colonel L F Rudd DSO., OBE. Graphite on paper, 24 x 17 cm, signed lower right
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Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) Troopship Sketches, Gnr V. E. Sanders Graphite & ink on paper, 28 x 41 cm Inscribed: 'Gnr. V. E. Sanders, No. 479547, Field Artillery 2nd N.Z.E.F., N.Z.A.P.O. 500'
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Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) Major S. M. Satterthwaite 26th Btn. Graphite on paper, 29 x 20 cm, signed lower right
Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) A New Zealand Tui Graphite on textured paper, 25 x 18 cm
Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) Portrait of a Lieutenant Graphite on paper, 30 x 23 cm, signed lower right
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Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) Shipping in Tobruk Harbour Graphite on paper, 11 x 21 cm
Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) An American Jeep Graphite on Miliaflex PM Fabriano paper, 19.5 x 27 cm
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Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) Portrait of a Soldier Graphite on paper, 24.5 x 17 cm
Peter McIntyre OBE. (New Zealand 1910 – 1995) Sgt. Keith Elliott VC. 22nd Btn. Conté crayon, 26 x 19.5 cm, signed lower right Ref: The Art of War, Jennifer Haworth p. 117.
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Peter McIntyre & Neville Colvin – War Artists
Peter McIntyre and Neville Colvin were both insightful observers of human behaviour and skilful in capturing the essence of the unassuming, New Zealand soldier. If McIntyre more frequently revealed the quiet dignity of this individual, Colvin was drawn to his good natured humour and resilience when confronted by the frustrations of life in the army in North Africa; the sand, the sun, insects and the enemy. Colvin arrived in Maadi camp in October 1941, assuming the duties of draughtsman and calligrapher for the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. (A position McIntyre had occupied the previous year). He also contributed free-lance illustrations to the army magazine, the N.Z.E.F. Times and from May 1943 to February 1945 was employed as its weekly illustrator. The authority of his drawings and the esteem that they were held in by the New Zealand Division resided in his fondness for the kiwi practical joker who was not immune to deflating the manners and pretensions of their superiors, or seemingly anyone else with ambitions above their station. McIntyre and Colvin had both grown up in Dunedin and demonstrated an early interest in the arts and an ability to expose the foolishness of human behaviour. McIntyre lampooned the fashionable taste of his fellow students at the University of Otago in its capping magazine in 1930 and Colvin similarly caricatured his classmates in the student publication in 1940. When McIntyre arrived at Maadi camp early in 1940, his artistic training was initially put to good use as office draughtsman and in illustrations of the ordinary New Zealand soldier’s life in Parade. Similarly, the daily tasks of army life also assumed prominence in Colvin’s cartoons for the N.Z.E.F. Times. In 1944 Colvin created his most popular character, ‘Clueless,’ the ‘not-so-bright’ soldier in every unit. Both McIntyre and Colvin shared a mischievous sense of humour. Asked to design a security poster to avoid careless military talk, McIntyre conceived a poster of two soldiers standing at a urinal with the inscription beneath;‘it’s wonderful what leaks out – Keep your mouth shut.’ Colvin, possibly conscious of his unofficial position as McIntyre’s successor as cartoonist for the New Zealand Division, illustrated the official war artist painting a portrait of ‘Clueless,’ peeling army potatoes and dismissively reminding him, ‘Don’t forget my stripe, Captain McIntyre.’ Colvin’s numerous cartoons of the mishaps and frustrations of New Zealanders at war flourished in the N.Z.E.F. Times as illustrations accompanying Edmund Webber’s regular column about the exploits of the New Zealand soldier,
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Johnny ENZED. Originally conceived by John Miller, the official war correspondent with the New Zealand Division in the Middle East,Webber assumed responsibility for the exploits of this mythical soldier. Webber captured the nuances of the Kiwi’s speech and habits, and alongside Colvin’s drawings, Johnny ENZED was the N.Z.E.F Times most popular feature. Later published in two collective volumes, (Johnny ENZED in the Middle East and Johnny ENZED in Italy), its author and illustrator were critically praised throughout the country for capturing the essence of the New Zealand soldier in war. While McIntyre had entertained the New Zealand Division when he arrived at Maadi camp in 1940 with his sketches of army life, as official war artist his position was compromised by his responsibilities towards the New Zealand government. Accordingly, Colvin’s arrival in North Africa was well timed, assuming the responsibilities that McIntyre had undertaken as satirist and war cartoonist, Colvin developed a body of work that perfectly complemented McIntyre’s, revealing an equally compelling and historically notable picture of the New Zealand soldier’s experience of war. Dr. Warren Feeney
Neville Colvin (New Zealand 1918 – 1991) 'Don't forget my stripe, Captain McIntyre.' Illustrated: N.Z.E.F. Times, March 12th 1945
Neville Colvin (New Zealand 1918 – 1991) Clueless: “Ashpet - Ashpet - Un’ Moment’ Un’ Moment’, per Favorey!” Graphite on card, 19 x 15 cm, signed lower right ‘NC’ Illustrated: N.Z.E.F Times 13th November 1944 p. 4.
Neville Colvin (New Zealand 1918 – 1991) Good Morning, Tweedledee!! Indian ink on paper, 25.5 x 21 cm, signed lower right Inscribed verso: ‘The aspiring young corporal you know, the aspiring (even younger) Lieutenant is John Gillies. Every picture tells a story - A.M.’
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Neville Colvin
New Zealand 1918 – 1991 Britain Known to his friends as ‘the Count’ for his distinctive features, and to thousands as the creator of ‘Clueless’, Neville Maurice Colvin was born and raised in Dunedin. The first expressions of his drawing talent included contributions to the Otago Boys’ High School annual magazine. With the onset of World War II, training to be a teacher was replaced with commando training in Australia. Colvin arrived in Egypt in October 1941 and worked as a draughtsman with one of the infantry brigades of the 2nd New Zealand Division at Maadi. In his spare time he began contributing drawings to the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces Times. In 1942 Private Colvin joined H.Q. 5th Brigade at the city of El Alamein, Northern Egypt. He cursed the bugs, the sun, the sand, the brass hats and all the other targets of an irritated soldier, yet from his hole in the ground he still managed to produce witty and humorous sketches for the N.Z.E.F. Times. To procure a chuckle out of 40,000 disillusioned soldiers was undoubtedly a milestone in the artist’s fledgling career. Towards the end of the Second Battle of Alamein he was hit in the leg, during a sudden airfield attack by nine fighterbombers. He saw the campaign out with the Division and returned to Maadi in May 1943. He was then seconded to the Public Relations Service as a draughtsman.
After working for The Daily Sketch and freelancing for major newspapers such as The News Chronicle and The Daily Telegraph, he turned to focus on strip cartooning. His best-known strip was the Evening Standard’s ‘Modesty Blaise’ by Peter O’Donnell, which he drew from 1977 – 1986. A lampoon on ‘James Bond’, the strip was run by in 44 countries, and in total he drew 1,902 episodes. Many reprints and several film adaptations have been made of this popular comic. Neville Colvin’s flair for capturing the essence of topical situations and the idiosyncrasies of his subjects with a distinctively bold line and minimal use of text makes him deserving of placement in the annals of not only New Zealand’s art history, but that of Britain, where during his lifetime he was considered her pre-eminent line artist. The drawings in this exhibition, produced during the WWII years, are especially meaningful. Not only did they succeed in making light out of arduous times and bringing rare merriment to our hardworking troops, but in producing them Colvin realised where his passion lay, leading to his valuable contributions to the world of cartoon and illustration on an international scale. Victoria Bayly
Lance-Corporal Colvin proceeded to Italy with the PRS. in early 1944, setting up headquarters in the port of Bari. By now he was one of the best-known artist contributors to the N.Z.E.F. Times. Here, he drew the original ‘Clueless’, the quintessential medal-bedecked, worn out and befuddled veteran. In early 1945 the nincompoop was released to the troops; he was an instant hit. The name quickly became a sobriquet for the gullible half-wit or unreliable vehicle in every unit, and for brigadiers and batmen, colonels and corporals alike his tomfooleries became a rare, weekly thrill. As The Jayforce Times wrote in 1947: “…even the normally staid, the meticulously military, were known to unbend.” Undoubtedly, it was Colvin’s regular interaction with the men in the Division and his past experiences at Alamein that saw him always hit the comic mark. In 1945 Sergeant Colvin returned to New Zealand and decided to continue doing that which had given him so much satisfaction while abroad. From 1946 to the mid-1950s he was a political cartoonist for The Evening Post in Wellington. Then, following the trend of other antipodean graphic artists Colvin ventured to London.
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Neville Colvin in Roussines
Neville Colvin (New Zealand 1918 – 1991) ‘Speight's Past the M.P.’ Ink on paper, 34 x 16.5 cm, signed upper left 'Neville Colvin’ Illustrated: Cartoon Page, NZEF Times Xmas Edition 1944.
Neville Colvin (New Zealand 1918 – 1991) Eighth Army Heroes: "What Do These Guys Want? Corona-Coronas?" Pen & ink, 27 x 12 cm Inscribed: A Wilbur. Titled verso Illustrated: Webber E.G. & Colvin N.C. Johnny Enzed in Italy, p. 13
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Jonathan Grant Galleries 280 Parnell Road PO Box 37 673 Parnell Auckland New Zealand Tel: (64-9) 308 9125 Fax: (64-9) 303 1071 E-Mail: jg@jgg.co.nz
www.jonathangrantgalleries.com
Finished Art Ltd 10.2010
Neville Colvin (New Zealand 1918 – 1991) General Sir Bernard Freyberg VC. Charcoal, graphite & white pastel, 44 x 29 cm, signed lower left Inscribed: Sports Post, 15th June 1946