Cheffins
Los 578
Wilfred Stanley Haines (British, 1905-1944) Self-portrait of the artist, in fireman's uniform of the Second World War oil on canvas, in a white painted distressed frame, and sold with the artist's family archive (2) 67 x 56cm (26 x 22in) Other Notes: Wilfred Stanley Haines was an artist and designer working with Morris and Co. at Merton before World War II. He is now most noted for his paintings of bombing scenes during that war. He became a wartime fireman, and was tragically killed during a flying bomb raid on 19th June, 1944 in Union Street, Southwark, London. His work was exhibited at the Royal Academy in four exhibitions of the work of Firemen Artists in the years 1941, 1942, 1943 and 1944. Haines' work is held in the Imperial War Museum and the V & A Museum, London The archive sold with the portrait comprises a few photographs of Haines and his fellow firemen on active duty. One small snapshot shows Haines wearing his 'Adolf was a Painter Too' poster. His birth certificate is present. There are many older family photographs, including holiday snaps, and some newspaper clippings about Haines and a watercolour floral frieze on paper. There is also some later correspondence between the Haines family and the V & A Museum when gifting various tapestry-related items, largely from Haines' father's time at the Windsor Tapestry Works. Oil on canvas which has not been lined. There is a tear near the centre of the canvas and a small dent to the left of the tear and associated paint loss. The paint layer is in a good condition overall. There is a light layer of efflorescence across the surface. There are a few small chips and losses to the decorative surface of the frame.
