An Aircraft Woman, Aston Down by William Rothenstein, sanguine chalk on paper

This is one of over 200 portraits William Rothenstein made of RAF personnel between 1939 and 1941, independently of the Official War Artists’ scheme.

Early in the war Rothenstein drew airmen at bases in Scotland. However, his work also took him to stations across England, including RAF Aston Down, Gloucestershire, then home to No. 20 Maintenance Unit and No. 5 Operational Training Unit. Rothenstein represented personnel of all ranks and roles – not exclusively male pilots but also members of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. Besides portraits commissioned by the Air Ministry, he privately sold many through London’s Leicester Galleries – the likely provenance of this work. Purchased with assistance from the National Art Collections Fund. Artist copyright: expired / RAF Museum.