Albert 1914 Accession Number: ART19548

Description

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.

Details

Accession Number
ART19548
Classification
Art
Object Type
Work on paper
Measurement
sheet: 45.4 x 36 cm
Medium
pen and ink over pencil on cardboard
Date Made
unknown
Place Made
Whole/Part
Whole
Item Count
1
Credit Line
donated 1974
Copyright
Copyright unknown

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Last modified: 16 July 2025 - 12.01 am