The Passing of the Unknown Warrior, 11 November 1920

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Ministry of Defence, Main Building, Whitehall

Francis (Frank) Owen Salisbury was born in Harpenden, Hertfordshire in 1874. At 15 he apprenticed at his brother’s stained glass works in St Alban’s, after which he studied at Heatherley’s School of Fine Art, London. He later studied at the Royal Academy Schools (1892–97). Influenced by his travels in Europe, Salisbury’s grand painting style is evident in his portraits of royalty, politicians and senior figures including King George VI and Winston Churchill and in his municipal murals of historical subjects. A member of several art societies, Salisbury was appointed a Commander in the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1938. He died at home in Hampstead, London in 1962. A studio sale of his work was held at Christie’s, London in 1985.

People

Julian Hedworth George, Viscount Byng of Vimy Byng (1862 - 1935), Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874 - 1965), later Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor] Edward VIII (1894 - 1972), John Denton Pinkstone, 1st Earl of Ypres French (1852 - 1925), George V (1865 - 1936), George VI (1895 - 1952), Douglas, 1st Earl Haig Haig (1861 - 1928), Prince, Duke of Gloucester Henry (1900 - 1974), Henry Sinclair, Baron Horne Horne (1861 - 1929), David, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor Lloyd George (1863 - 1945), Paul Sanford, 3rd Baron Methuen Methuen (1845 - 1932), Louis, Earl Mountbatten of Burma Mountbatten (1900 - 1979), Clive, 1st Baron Wigram Wigram (1873 - 1960), Sir Henry Hughes, 1st Baronet Wilson (1864 - 1922)

Places

England, London, Whitehall: the Cenotaph, Whitehall: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Whitehall

Subjects

carriage, choir, choral music, WW1 art, horse, crowd, mourning, robe, military uniform, wreath, coffin, flag, funeral, parade, sword, soldier, World War I, state funeral, street, monument, government building

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Frank Owen Salisbury (1874 - 1962)

Title

The Passing of the Unknown Warrior, 11 November 1920

Date

1920

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 141.00 cm, width: 311.00 cm

Acquisition

Presented by the artist, June 1953

GAC number

2178