Watercolour Illustration for 'The War Budget'

Original monochrome watercolour of an Australian machine gun company in action at Gallipoli or on the western Front, published in The War Budget magazine.

250x360mm. Watercolour on board, rounded corners, inscribed in pencil to the verso in pencil: ‘George Soper R.E. (of Hermer Green, Welwyn d. 1942) Drawing for “The War Budget”, 1914-18.’ The image shows an Australian machine gun company wearing Khaki felt slouch hats, lower foreground, engaging with the enemy who are advancing towards a line of barbed wire. In the middle of the picture, a huge explosion has thrown several enemy combatants into the air.

Soper was born in Devon in 1870 and despite relatively little formal training, carved out a successful career as an illustrator and artist. He volunteered for active service in 1914 but was turned down, instead turning his artistic talents to highly regarded wartime artwork and illustration for periodicals.