Maurice Ravel
(1875-1937), Composer and pianistSitter in 3 portraits
One of France’s pre-eminent composers. He joined the Thirteenth Artillery Regiment as a lorry driver in March 1915, transporting munitions within close range of enemy gunfire. With his physical and mental health deteriorating, Ravel was provisionally discharged in June 1917. Ravel composed little during the war years, the most notable of which, Le tombeau de Couperin (1914-17), memorialised six friends killed during the war in each movement. With diminished physical and mental stamina, Ravel composed less in the years after the war and adopted a more pared back style. He wrote his most famous work, Boléro in 1928.
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.