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Lot Essay
The above painting was specially commissioned for the cover of the John Bull magazine and represents a scene in the Arsenal dressing-room five minutes prior to kick-off. The painting features many famous Gunners, Ronald Rooke, Leslie Compton, Archie MacAulay, James Logie, Wally Barnes, Reg Lewis, W.Sloan, George Male, Bryn Jones, Don Roper, George Swindin, Tom Whittaker, Billy Milne and Denis Compton, in England cricket blazer. The article contained within the magazine tells the story of the picture 'All Strangers are asked to leave while Tom Whittaker tells his secret-the plan of campaign to be fought out before 60,000 spectators. Yates Wilson, whose cover picture this week visualises the scene, reports that there is a surprising lack of dramatic tension. "Due" he says, "to the remarkable harmony and confidence Whittaker has managed to build". The key plan identifies everyone present ....., and (14) Denis Compton, "who, this time, just turned up to watch".