The Battle of Salamis (Original)

Artist: Richard Hook
Medium: Gouache on Board
Size: 22" x 15" (565mm x 380mm)
Date: 1976
Code: HookRGreekShipLL

This is the unique original Gouache painting by Richard Hook.

Salamis was a naval battle (as evinced by Herodotus) fought between an Alliance of Greek city-states and the Achaemenid Empire of Persia lead by Xerxes in September 480 BC in the straits between the mainland and Salamis, an island in the Saronic Gulf near Athens.

The Persian navy sailed into the Straits of Salamis and in the cramped conditions of the Straits the great Persian numbers were an active hindrance as ships struggled to manoeuvre and became disorganised.

Seizing the opportunity, the Greek fleet formed in line and scored a decisive victory, sinking or capturing at least 200 Persian ships. Note. a slight ink smudge in the centre of the work yet once glazed would be hardly noticeable.

• Artist Biography
  Richard Hook (1938 - January 2010; UK)
  Richard Hook was born in 1938 and trained at Reigate College of Art. After national service with 1st Bn, Queen's Royal Regiment, he became art editor of the much-praised magazine Finding Out during the 1960s.
  
  He then went on to work as a freelance illustrator, earning an international reputation for his deep knowledge of Native American material culture.
  
  He provided many illustrations, predominantly scenes from British history and daily life, for Look and Learn magazine during the 1960s and 1970s and illustrated more than 50 titles for Osprey, contributing to these books for over 30 years. Sadly Richard passed away in January 2010.