Classic poster depicted romantic view of tower
A COLLECTABLE poster depicting a stone tower in Tutbury and dates back to before the Second World War was due to auctioned yesterday.
The colour poster was created in 1936 by Leonard H Rosoman and is called the Roman Tower, Tutbury. It was created as part of an advertising campaign series entitled “To Visit Britain’s Landmarks” for oil and gas giant Shell.
The tower which the artist referred to as the Roman Tower can still be seen from Tutbury Castle at the top of a hill and is known as Julian Tower, with local tradition believing it was built by Julius Ceasar.
However, this is not the case. This folly in Tutbury was built around 1790 at a time when it was popular to make fake ruins, said Gareth Williams, director of Tutbury Castle.
It was built in the place of a medieval tower. Although it has been proven that Romans were in Tutbury, it could have been used as a signal station as Rocester and Uttoxeter can be seen from it.
The series of posters comprised a selection of follies and sometimes unusual attractions, encouraging the public to explore the British countryside, according to The Shell Poster Book, 1978, by John Hewitt. Such posters are prized among collectors and it was hoped it would fetch up to £500 at auction.
At the time of going to press, we do not yet know how well it did in the sale. Leonard Rosoman OBE RA was born in 1913, and just after graduating from the Central School of Art, he received this commission from Shell. Rosoman was a war artist to the admiralty from 1943 to 1945. He is best known for his paintings of people in interiors.
The artist also painted murals and produced book illustrations. He taught at several art schools including the Royal College of Art between 1957 and 1978. He was awarded an OBE in 1981. Rosoman died in 2012, at the age of 98.
The poster says ‘To visit Britain’s landmarks you can be sure of Shell.’
It is signed and dated by the artist. It was due to be auctioned by Lyon and Turnbull and was expected to fetch between £300 and £500.
The lot is described as a lithographic poster 1936 which is framed but not backed.