Possible 1940's British mural painting (fresco)

Discussion in '1940' started by myt1prod, Jun 11, 2020.

  1. myt1prod

    myt1prod Junior Member

    fresque secret onlineversion.jpg

    Somewhere in the region (De Panne - Dunkirk) where operation Dynamo took place this well hiden mural painting can be found. I was informed about this mural by a local historian and it took me serveral atempts to be granted access. As the owners are not that fund of visitors I was asked to not share the location.

    Although there is no exact proof, it is claimed to be painted at time of the withdrawl of the BEF on Dunkirk, more exactly by a British soldier. A possible theory goes that this mural contains much symbolism and depicts the tudorrose escaping to safety from the grasp of enemy hands.

    We also know for a fact that this location was occupied by the Germans for the duration of the war... so it is questionable if this mural is in fact British (although the symbolism seems to proof soo), because one can assume that the Germans would have destroyed it... unless if they were artlovers.

    Any other thoughts on the (possible) symbolism in this mural?
     
    von Poop likes this.
  2. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    A white horse and a red rose together used to be symbolic of the North Rhineland combining Westfalia (white horse) and Lippe-Detmold (red rose). They were much used in combination by the Rhineland separatists in the 1920s and can still be seen in the arms of the current federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia created in 1946
     
  3. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    Someone overdoing the Wagner perhaps? Rheintöchter and all that ? Has a certain ring to it
     
    Shiny 9th likes this.
  4. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    The British were only in De Panne for days, and not really in circumstances that permitted painting anything.
     
  5. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    What is the basis for assuming that it's British? That isn't a Tudor rose. Much more likely that it's from the German garrison defending Dunkirk in 1944, possibly someone or some unit from the Palatinate (Rhineland). The subject is reminiscent of some Wagnerian illustrations - particularly Arthur Rackham's 1924 illustrations for Götterdämmerung, showing naked Rhine maidens recovering the ring from Albrecht, which were very popular in Germany.
     
  6. myt1prod

    myt1prod Junior Member

    Robert, thanks for your insights... indeed, very wagnerian image
    There is no conclusive proof of this mural being British... the only reason i've shared it over here is because of the local historian who informed me about this mural and his belief that it is a British mural based on the rose which he assumes to be the tudorrose.
    I can't proof it to be British or otherwise, but as stated earlier, if it was British, I would be strange to have survived 4 years of German occupation without it being destroyed or altered.
    As Rich points out, it would be very unlikely that the British had the time to paint murals condidering the ongoing evacuation and German attacks. Another indication for it to be rather German then British is that the wall is specialy prepared in order to paint on it; as it was a rough brick wall which was cemented only for the part to fit the image... again it would very unlikely if the British found the time to prepare the wall.

    never the less, German or British... it is a fine piece of wartime art for us to enjoy
     
  7. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    The Tudor Rose was introduced as national symbol by Henry Tudor AKA Henry VII and combined the Red Lancastrian Rose and the White Yorkist Rose - it was red and white. A pure red rose is not a Tudor rose. The various Rhineland and the other seperatist parties in Germany used to be quite strong - indeed the Hanoverian one sent elected members to the Reichstag - until Hitler prohibited them all in 1933. There would still have been people with Rhineland seperatist sympathies in the German armed forces during the war.
     
    myt1prod likes this.

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