To York, Dick Turpin's ride

Oil painting, 'York' by Doris Zinkeisen, 1934. Original painting for London & North Eastern Railway poster 'To York. Dick Turpin's Ride', 1934. Depicts the highwayman on horseback with York Minster in the background. With 'York' in the lower left corner and artist's signature lower right. Unframed.

With an extensive collection of original poster artworks, some of the most unlikely subjects can appear in a railway museum art collection. This is To York, Dick Turpin by Doris Zinkeisen, commissioned by the London & North Eastern Railway in 1934.

It depicts the highwayman, Dick Turpin, astride his horse Black Bess just outside York, with the Minster in the distance. The hero of legend bore little resemblance to the Turpin who was hanged on York’s Knavesmire in 1739.

Doris Zinkeisen was a hugely versatile theatre designer, portrait painter, illustrator and an accomplished equestrian. During the Second World War she served as both a nurse and an official war artist.

In the 1930s Zinkeisen produced posters for each of the main line railway companies. Her designs were virtually all historical subjects executed in this rather fanciful style. Her sister, Anna, was also a poster artist.