The
warm breezes blowing over the island of Oahu on that quiet
Sunday morning heralded another peaceful day for the navy
crews of the Hawaiian Islands, the massive naval armada lay
sleeping in the flatcalm of Pearl Harbor, personnel aboard
and ashore enjoying their customary week-end relaxation. With
America at peace, this Sunday would be just another day in
paradise…… It would not be so.
At ten minutes to eight, as the
huge fleet lazily came awake, suddenly, and without warning,
the world around them exploded with all the mighty force of
thunder. Within seconds Pearl Harbor became cloaked with attacking
Japanese aircraft. Before sailors could comprehend what was
happening, bombs and torpedoes had ripped out the heart of
the fleet. Four of eight battleships were sunk; a dozen more
naval vessels lay stricken in the water; 2400 souls perished.
In those terrible few moments, the tranquil scene was transformed
into a boiling cauldron of explosions, fire, smoke and unimaginable
destruction. Pearl Harbor became a raging inferno.
Robert Taylor's specially commissioned
masterpiece recreates desperate moments during the second
wave attack at around 9am on that fateful Sunday morning.
Having taken six torpedo hits and two bomb strikes in the
first wave attack on "Battleship Row", the
West Virginia is ablaze, her bows already low in the
water and decks awash. Ignoring the risks, crews push the
navy tug Hoga alongside with
fire-fighting equipment and to pick up survivors. Overhead,
Japanese Zeros swoop through the smoke, aiming the second
wave attack at installations on Pearl Harbor's Ford Island,
to complete one of history's most devastating unprovoked declarations
of war.
Images of that infamous attack on the
American Pacific Fleet as it lay peaceably in Pearl Harbor,
horrifying as they were, will become ever more significant
as the years go by: They provide that constant reminder and
enduring tribute so important to the memory of those who survived,
and those who never saw the sun set on that momentous day
in America's history. We are honored to have survivors who
took part in the action at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941,
sign the prints in Robert Taylor's remarkable commemorative
editions, making these authenticated prints living treasures.
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|
Overall print
size: 33" wide x 23 3/4" high.
Image size: 26 1/2" wide x 16"
high.
Robert Taylor's specially commissioned
print issued in memory of those who lost their lives at Pearl
Harbor, to honor those who heroically endured the attack,
and pay tribute to the survivors who helped battle the nation
to ultimate victory.
| Morning
Thunder by Robert Taylor |
| 550 s/n prints w/EIGHT
signatures. |
US $295 |
|
| 25 Artist's Proofs w/EIGHT
signatures. |
US $500 |
|
There are few truly defining moments in the history of a State
- single episodes that touch every citizen, and cast a nation's
future. Epoch-making events that influence the entire world
are even more uncommon. The events that took place in the
space of less than two hours on the morning of December 7,
1941 were of such defining importance, their memory is now
deeply embedded into the history of the Twentieth Century.
Morning Thunder is an exclusive
commemorative limited edition published in association with
the Admiral Nimitz Museum, Fredericksburg, Texas.
ADMIRAL
NIMITZ
MUSEUM
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