A portrait of Roald Dahl during his RAF days is going on display. His family have lent the painting to the National Portrait Gallery for a show on the pioneering work of artist Matthew Smith, a great friend of the author.
Dahl flew with the RAF in the Second World War, but his flying career ended in 1941 as a result of head injuries he suffered in a crash. He was declared unfit for combat and posted to Washington as assistant air attaché, where the novelist C.S. Forester asked him to write notes on his RAF anecdotes for a newspaper. His account of the crash was so vivid it was published it in full, marking the accidental start to his writing career.
In 1944 he sat for Smith, who encouraged him in his writing. The result is the painting at the National Portrait Gallery, which is included in an exhibition that brings together the work of Smith and sculptor Frank Dobson.
Colour, Light, Texture: Portraits by Matthew Smith and Frank Dobson is on until April 6, 2015, admission free. npg.org.uk
