Send image Biography Sold

Presentation: Unmounted
Signed and dated in plate
Portfolio of twelve lithographs
Image size 15W × 10E in. (38.7 × 27.3 cm)
Provenance: Mr J. Pidcock.

These lithographs were produced by Rudolph Ihlee when he was working in theWestwoodWorks drawing office in Peterborough, during the First World War . He was the brother of F.C. Ihlee, Chairman of the Board of management.
During the war most of [WestwoodWorks’] own production ceased
and in common with other engineering factories they went on to war
work.This included, Cordite Mixers, Field Ovens,Diesel engines for
lorries, tractors and tanks, the 6″ Howitzer Field Gun and various
miscellaneous jobs. From 1917 onwards they collaborated with
Joseph Baker & Sons in the manufacture of Base Bakeries for the
Army (Sir Ivor Baker , A Synopsis of the History of Baker Perkins,
Peterborough 1946).

We are grateful to Maurice Rickson for providing titles for these works.

1. Complete 6″ howitzer made ready for dispatch
2. Girl assembling petrol engines for tanks,Type 100hp ‘Ricardo’
3. Howitzer trail being machined in horizontal boring machine
4. Petrol engine flywheels being machined in duplex vertical boring machine
5. Petrol engines for tanks being tested,Type 300hp ‘Ricardo’
6. Plateworking shop: howitzer carriages and travelling field ovens
7. Power house
8. Crankcase of 300hp petrol engine for tanks being machined under radial arm
drilling machine
9. Crane in the machine shop, seen from crane in adjoining bay of machine shop
10. Water tower, seen from railway sidings
11. Petrol engine test beds
12. Electrically operated crane lifting mould for casting in the foundry

Thumbnail panels:

Rudolph Ihlee 1883 - 1968

Painter and draughtsman, born in London. He was apprenticed to Ferranti as an engineer in 1902, but entered Slade School of Fine Art, 1906-10, where he proved a brilliant student, winning many prizes. After two solo shows at Carfax Gallery, 1912-14, Ihlee worked as an engineering draughtsman in Peterborough during World War I. The year after he became a member of NEAC, in 1921 Ihlee had a successful show at Leicester Galleries, but then settled in Collioure, in the south of France. Although he had a solo exhibition at Chenil Gallery in 1926, between the wars his life qnd exhibiting career was in France; his second wife, Isabelle, was French. He returned to England when World War II broke out, working in a factory in Leicester, settling eventually in West Deeping, Lincolnshire. He had a solo show at St Peter's College Hall, Peterborough, with Arts Council support, in 1951, and another in Sleaford in 1968. There was a show seven years after he died at Rutland Sixth Form College, Oakham, then in 1978 a retrospective at Graves Art Gallery in Sheffield and Belgrave Gallery. Victoria & Albert Museum, Manchester City Art Gallery and Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, Bedford, hold work. (The family pronunciation of Ihlee is Eelay, although Ighly is common.)