The Union Flag in Art History
John Singleton Copley, The Death of Major Peirson, 1782-84, Oil on Canvas
On the 12th of April 1606, the Union flag was made the official flag of Britain. Flags play an important part of a nation’s identity and our Union Flag, made up of its bold red, white and blue, is no exception. Since the Union Flag was created, it has appeared in a plethora of contexts throughout history and has been regularly reinterpreted by artists, especially in the last 50 years.
As this particular anniversary allows us to reflect on our country’s history in the context of an emblem known for its colours, we thought we would use today’s Journal to take a look at the image of the Union Flag in art, and explore how it and its colours (especially blue and white) have been presented in different ways over time.
The Significance of the Colours of the Union Flag
The College of Arms’ copy of 5th November 1800 order-in-council of George III altering the Union Flag
Before we delve into our selected paintings, let’s explore the significance of each of the colours of the flag. Especially since two of them are those of which we dedicate our focus to here at Blue and White Company.
Many will already know that the Union Flag is the amalgamation of the three individual nation’s flags that the Union Flag represents. The centralised red cross symbolises St George and represents England, the white saltire (a diagonal cross) on the blue background is Scotland’s flag of St. Andrew and the red cross on a white background is the saltire of St Patrick for Ireland.
It’s important to note, that the latter was actually an addition made in 1801, after the Act of Union which united Ireland with Great Britain. Therefore, in paintings created before 1801, such as The Death of Major Pierson by John Singleton Copley, you won’t see the red diagonal saltire of St. Patrick. Having said that, nowadays it would be a strange sight to find a Union Flag without it.
As a whole, the flag is very much what its name suggests: a visual image that symbolises the union between the countries who fly it. Individually, however, the colours included in each element can be understood to have their own meaning.
In heraldic symbolism the colour blue represents loyalty, piety and truth. Red indicates military strength and magnanimity and, in the case of St. George’s cross, the crusades, courage and sacrifice. Finally the white of the flag is generally understood to symbolise peace, purity and sincerity.
With those meanings in mind, let’s have a look at how the flags have been depicted throughout history.
The Union Flag as a Historical Military Symbol
J.M.W Turner, The Battle of Trafalgar, 21 October 1805, 1822-24, Oil on Canvas
Since the creation of the Union flag in 1606, it has featured in many paintings throughout history. Many of the earlier pieces are those of military and maritime depictions. A perfect example of this is one of J.M.W Turner’s most notable paintings, The Battle of Trafalgar, 21 October, 1805.
This immense and complex composition was Turner’s only work commissioned by Royal command. The painting shows a symbolic depiction of non-chronological moments that took place in the Battle of Trafalgar. During which Admiral Horatio Nelson led his British fleet to victory. As HMS Victory triumphs over the French fleet, many smaller flags can be seen adornings the masts of the battling ships.
The largest by far, however, is the Union Flag in the lower left of the composition. The large and instantly recognisable flag isn’t being flown, but rather appears to be covering those fallen in battle. Thought to symbolise the glory they have achieved by dying for their country, the flag’s presence re-enforces the message of Britain’s subsequent naval sovereignty.
Whilst the subject matter is fundamentally historical, Turner doesn’t fail to demonstrate his wonderfully expressive Romantic style through his depiction of the sea and the elements. The clouds swirl above whilst the waves crash below and, in doing so, he also demonstrates a wonderful contrast in the effects of his colour palette.
All the flags that are blue, be them small, large, British or that of a foe, are painted solidly and unmistakably. However, when you look at the dark, near black, blue of the sea, or the greyish tinge of turbulent skies (indicative of the combat below it) the viewer is reminded of the power of nature. This in turn highlights how impressive a feat battling on the uncontrollable ocean truly is.
Contemporary Iconography and the Union Flag
CCA Art Bus decorated with artwork by Sir Peter Blake
If you fast forward a little in time, we see the Union Flag begin to play quite a different role in the art world, and pop culture in general. Whilst it appeared throughout the last couple of hundred years predominantly in imperial and military contexts, the use of the flag’s image began to really shift around the middle of the 20th century.
Not only did artists start to adopt the image into modern art movements, the flag also began its career in fashion, music and popular culture. In the 1960s we saw supermodel Twiggy walk the runway in a Union Jack dress and Mini Cooper epitomise Englishness with their Union Flag roofs. Following this the flag found its way into the world of music, sported on the front of album covers by bands like The Who.
A perfect example of a modern British artist who championed the Union Flag is Sir Peter Blake. Proclaimed the ‘godfather of British Pop Art’, Blake’s art was inspired by the American Pop art movement in the 60s and 70s. He took its bright, primary colours and focus on media and culture and, through a change of subject matter, made it quintessentially British. The Union Flag lent itself perfectly to this adaptation.
Peter Blake and the Union Flag
Throughout his career, Blake has celebrated the flag and made it a recurring motif in his work. As early as 19611, in his painting Self-Portrait with Badges, he made a clear statement of national pride through the inclusion of a central Union Jack pin. There is nothing sinister about this patriotism however, having been clear that to him he simply loves the unity and the history the Union Jack symbolises.
In later works, such as his 2016 silkscreen print ‘Union Flag’, Blake took the playful approach to his depictions one step further by adding glitter to each colour plane. The beloved red, white and blue now sparkled and reiterated Blake’s desire to modernise the flag and ensure it emulated fun and positivity.
You can see Blake’s love for the Union Jack in many other works, such as Found in Art – 24 Badges and even decorating the side of the CCA Art Bus. Designed by Peter Blake the artwork on the side of the gallery on wheels captures the essence of British Pop Art and Rock and Roll. The side design of the bus emulates the album cover Blake designed many years earlier for The Who, whilst the Union Flag takes an entire side to itself on the rear of the bus.
Cool Britannia and the Emblem of the 90s
Alexander McQueen, Union Flag Dress Coat made for David Bowie in 1996, Image Attribution: Wikimedia Commons Vladimir
Whilst still a very popular image today, the height of the Union Flag’s popularity could be pinpointed to the 1990’s. This decade saw the epoch of ‘Cool Britannia’, in which the flag arguably became the emblem of effortless style. ‘Cool Britannia’ was a movement which celebrated British pop culture, during which national pride and creative confidence was revived in the UK.
By this point, the Union Flag was being used in an array of art forms. It continued to be used as a bold visual symbol on the front of album covers, posters, and as global fashion statements. Perpetuated by public figures, celebrities and bands such as Pulp, Blur, Oasis, Suede and the Spice Girls, the flag’s use in the Britpop scene reinforced the magnitude of Britain’s cultural influence on the rest of the world.
A brilliant example of ‘Cool Britannia’ in action was the spectacular Union Flag dress coat made by renowned fashion designer Alexander McQueen for David Bowie in 1996. Asked personally by Bowie, McQueen created a piece so brilliantly vivacious that the singer not only wore it on the intended stage performance but also for the artwork on his 1997 album Earthling.
The boldness of the colours, such as the iconic royal blue, undoubtedly lent themselves to the statement and impact that designers like Mcqueen wanted to make. In general, the standout red, white and blue reflected a confident, modern and culturally vibrant Britain. An unmistakable combination that has always projected global influence which, during this period, was a pretty cool one.
An Iconic Image Throughout History
Image from website/ Geri Halliwell dressed in the Iconic Union Jack Dress for the Spice Girl 1997 Brit Awards Performance
As we can see, the Union Flag is undeniably an iconic image. It has portrayed a multitude of meanings and made a plethora of statements over the last four hundred years. Whilst not every context it has been associated with has been a positive one, it has quite literally earned its colours.
Be it the mark of British maritime power, a statement of anarchy or a playful, positive celebration of innocent patriotism, the Union Flag holds a very important place in the history of art, music, fashion and design.
“I am very patriotic. I love the Union Jack Flag; the sense of history it gives and the union between four great countries that it represents.”
– Sir Peter Blake, Artist and leader of British Pop Art