Dornier Wal Flying Boat by Norman Wilkinson

A watercolour and gouache on board of a Dornier Wal 29 flying boat painted by Norman Wilkinson.

The Wal, or Whale, is low over the water and looks to be coming into land, with cliff tops loosely painted in background. Wilkinson, as you would expect, has given good detail to his Dornier Wal illustration.

The Dornier Wal was produced by the German Claude Dornier company and was one of their most successful aircraft. The Wal was all metal and used 'push-pull' configured propellors mounted to the front and back of the engine, set above the wing. Aside from Germany, 16 different countries used the Wal including Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Yugoslavia and Japan. It was also popular with South American countries. Its reputation was such that the explorer Roald Amundsen used it in his 1925 attempt to reach the North Pole. Several pilots used the Dornier Wal in attempts to cross the Atlantic: some successful, some not. Both civilian and military planes were made from 1923 until its retirement in 1950 with 30 different versions.

The painting is signed 'Norman Wilkinson, Wal .29.' in a typical position for the artist on the right-hand side of the painting. Below, to the bottom edge of the artist's board, is has also noted 'Southampton 29.' The back of the board has a paper label simply noting in marker pen 'D. Wal .29.' and directly to the board is written 'D.29 Wale'.

There is no indication who this illustration was done for or how it may have been used, if it was at all. As you would expect, it is very well painted by Wilkinson who was a well-established artist by this date. Dated 1929.