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Writer's pictureLaina Watt

Eric Ravilious - Missing Painting Found

Updated: Nov 8, 2022

A painting by one of Britian's best-loved watercolour artists that was "considered missing" for 82 years is to be put on display.


'Mackerel Sky' by Eric William Ravilious was sold to a private collector for 15 guineas in 1939.

The current owner is loaning it to Hastings Contemporary art gallery for its Seaside Modern Exhibition. Curator and art historian James Russell said the painting reappearing was "exciting news for Ravilious fans". "This 1938 gem, Mackerel Sky, was considered missing for years but has now resurfaced and will feature in my exhibition," added Mr Russell.

Above: 'Mackerel Sky' was sold within a year of completion and was not seen by the public until now.


The watercolour, which measures an impressive 75cm by 55cm, is estimated to be worth at least £250,000 according to gallery experts. It features fishing boats pulled up onto the beach with a beautiful sky in the background. In 2018 another Ravilious painting, which had not been seen since the war years, was sold for a similar price at auction. Ravilious, who grew up in East Sussex, was a war artist who was also famous for his watercolours of the South Downs and other English landscapes. These include 'Wilmington Giant' and 'Beachy Head' which are available as beautiful limited edition art prints on our website.


'Mackerel Sky' is one of about 30 Eric Ravilious paintings dating from the 1920s and 1930s which the art community could not confirm were still in existence, as many of his paintings went missing or were destroyed during World War Two. Ravilious died aged just 39 in 1942 when the aircraft he was in disappeared off the coast of Iceland.

Above: Framed Eric Ravilious Print 'Vale of the White Horse' in an Oak frame with white mount. You might also want to visit our trade and retail site for Limited Edition Watercolours www.ericraviliousprints.com



Our full range of framed Eric Ravilious Art Prints can be found on our website.

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