The Long Man of Wilmington; The Wilmington Giant
- Object:
- Place of origin:
Wilmington, England (painted)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
Eric Ravilious, born 1903 - died 1942 (painter)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C, case TECHS
- Image in copyright
Eric Ravilious was a successful designer in many media, but in later life concentrated increasingly on watercolours. His favourite themes were landscapes and rural interiors, often featuring the downland and coast of southern England. He made several paintings of the chalk hill figures. The Wilmington Giant, or the Long Man of Wilmington, cut into the turf of the northern slope of the downs near Eastbourne, is the subject of fierce controversy. Some say it is of great antiquity, and represents a Celtic iron age god, similar to the Roman god Janus, who stands at the doorway to the celestial year. However, recent excavations at the foot of the hill suggest a much more recent date in the late 16th or early 17th century. The purpose of the gigantic figure is still a complete mystery.
Physical description
Watercolour drawing of the Wilmington Giant chalk man cut into the side of a hill on the South Downs in Sussex. Signed and dated 'Eric Ravilious/August [19]39'.
Place of Origin
Wilmington, England (painted)
Date
1939 (painted)
Artist/maker
Eric Ravilious, born 1903 - died 1942 (painter)
Materials and Techniques
Watercolour
Marks and inscriptions
Eric Ravilious / August 39
Dimensions
Height: 44.2 cm, Width: 54.5 cm, Height: 905 mm frame, Width: 675 mm frame, Depth: 40 mm frame
Object history note
This drawing was No.1902 in the United Artists Exhibition held at Burlington House, January to march 1940.
Descriptive line
Watercolour drawing by Eric Ravilious (1903-1942) depicting 'The Wilmington Giant'. Great Britain, 1939.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Vikutoria & Arub?to Bijutsukan-z? : eikoku romanshugi kaigaten = The Romantic tradition in British painting, 1800-1950 : masterpieces from the Victoria and Albert Museum / selected by Mark Evans [Japan : Brain Trust], 2002. 185 p. : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 30 cm.
Exhibition History
Water into Art: British Watercolours from the V&A 1750-1950 (Shenhzen Museum, China 9 August 2012-11 November 2012)
Familiar Visions: Eric & James Ravilious, Father & Son (Towner, Eastbourne 03/07/2010-05/09/2010)
Eric Ravilious: Imagined Realities (Imperial War Museum 23/10/2003-25/01/2004)
The Romantic Tradition in British Painting 1800-1950: Masterpieces from the Victoria and Albert Museum (Prefectural Museum of Art, Hyogo, Kobe, Japan 28/01/2003-06/04/2003)
The Romantic Tradition in British Painting 1800-1950: Masterpieces from the Victoria and Albert Museum (Koriyama City Museum of Art 22/11/2002-27/12/2002)
The Romantic Tradition in British Painting 1800-1950: Masterpieces from the Victoria and Albert Museum (Matsuzakaya Museum, Nagoya, Japan 19/10/2002-11/11/2002)
The Romantic Tradition in British Painting 1800-1950: Masterpieces from the Victoria and Albert Museum (Chiba Prefectural Museum of Art, Japan 24/08/2002-06/10/2002)
Eric Ravilious (Towner, Eastbourne 26/07/1986-10/01/1987)
Materials
Watercolour
Techniques
Watercolour drawing
Subjects depicted
Landscape; Sussex; Fence; The Downs; Giant; Chalk; Hill figure
Categories
Archaeology
Collection code
PDP
