English corporal Daphne Pearson (Joan Daphne Mary Pearson), was serving in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) at the beginning of World War II, when she was involved in the rescue an Avro Anson aircraft which had crashed in Detling, Kent, in the early hours of May 31, 1940. As she helped the pilot to get clear of the wreckage, one of the aircraft's 120lb bombs exploded. She threw herself on top of the pilot to protect him from the blast and shrapnel. When a stretcher party arrived she went back to the burning aircraft to look for other crew members but found the other two dead.
Pearson was one the first members of the WAAF to be given an award for her heroic act, first the Empire Gallantry Medal, shortly replaced by the George Cross.
English artist Laura Knight made this portrait the same year, as a tribute to Pearson and her heroism. She decided not to depict the actual incident. Pearson is instead portrayed in the countryside, seated, in uniform, looking to the sky, with an expectant expression, while holding a respirator. Pearson, at Knight's insistence, sat for this portrait holding a rifle; as WAAF personnel were not allowed to carry arms on duty, Knight had to paint over the rifle, which was replaced by a gas mask in the finished painting, with Pearson’s hands still positioned as if holding a rifle.
Knight worked on a number of commissions for the War Artists Advisory Committee (WAAC) during the Second World War as an official war artist. In total, Knight had 17 completed paintings, together with numerous studies, accepted by the WAAC, most of which were exhibited in the National Gallery or the Royal Academy during the war.
In 1929, Knight was created a Dame, and, in 1936, became the 3rd woman, and first since 1760, to be elected to full membership of the Royal Academy. Her success in the male-dominated British art establishment paved the way for greater recognition for female artists. She passed away at 92 in 1970. Pearson passed away at 89 in 2000.
“Corporal J. D. M. Pearson, GC, WAAF” by Laura Knight (English) - Oil on canvas / 1940 - Imperial War Museum (London, England) #WomenInArt #art #artwork #WomanArtist #LauraKnight #IWM #ImperialWarMuseum #WWiiArt #WomensArt #WomenArtists #FemaleArtists #PortraitofaWoman #ArtText #1940s #WAAC #bskyart