(Updated, October 2014) This painting forms part of Norman Wilkinson's ‘The War at Sea’ series, depicting the work of the Royal Navy, Merchant Navy and RAF Coastal Command during the Second World War, of which 53 were exhibited under that title at the National Gallery in September 1944, after he presented them to the nation via the War Artists Advisory Committee (this item's WAAC number being LD 4291). The full set is in fact 54 but one entitled 'Convoy' (WAAC no. LD 4324), which was the first in the National Gallery show, appears to have previously been purchased from him by the WAAC, while another ('Leaving base on D-Day', no. LD 4323, now NMM BHC1622) was not included in that first exhibition, probably for practical reasons. Wilkinson's sole request in presenting the remainder of the set was that they be kept together. However, in 1947, after their return from a post-war exhibition tour in Australia and New Zealand, the WAAC allocated the Imperial War Museum 14 of its choice, while 39 were allocated to the NMM and the 'Convoy' picture to the Royal United Service Institute, London. Wilkinson strongly objected to this and had the support of the NMM Trustees in wishing them all to be united and kept at Greenwich but steps to effect this were was resisted until he appealed directly to the Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, to intervene. The result was that, also in 1947, the IWM transferred the 14 they briefly held to the NMM, making the total it holds 53. The 'Convoy' picture - which forms the frontispiece to the short catalogue of 1944 National Gallery show - remains with the RUSI in Whitehall (its sole example by Wilkinson), presumably because it was the purchased canvas and so not covered by Wilkinson's stipulation in giving the others, though this remains to be confirmed. The 'Convoy' picture - which forms the frontispiece to the short catalogue of 1944 National Gallery show - remains with the RUSI in Whitehall (its sole example by the artist), presumably because it was the purchased canvas and so not covered by Wilkinson's stipulation in giving the others, though this remains to be confirmed. The fact that one was bought (but not specifying which and giving an incorrect total of 52) is mentioned by Brian Foss in 'War Paint: Art, War, State and Identity in Britain, 1939-1945' (Yale UP, 2007), p. 163, where he usefully discusses public reception of the series.

The present work (showing landing craft crossing the Channel) was the cover illustration of the 1944 NG catalogue and also forms part of a sub-group of eight within the set titled in the 1944 exhibition as 'The Navy's part in the invasion' (i.e., D-Day and following in June 1944), with the following group caption: 'The group of pictures of the invasion of Normandy are from sketches made by the artist who was present in the destroyer "Jervis" on D-Day and for some days subsequently.' This one, titled as above, is eighth in the group of which the exhibition listing order is: (1) BHC1635, (2) BHC1595, (3) BHC1636, (4) BHC1621, (5) BHC1594, (6) BHC1637 (7) BHC1638 (8) BHC1590.