Gilbert Rogers

Gassed. 'Ardius Fidelis'

Artist: Gilbert Rogers

Media: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 101.9 x 152.4 cm

Date: 1919

Gilbert Rogers was a medical officer in the First World War. He was commissioned by the Royal Army to record their work in France and Belgium. Gilbert experience as medical officer shows throughout his works. In most of his paintings we see the wounded with medical teams helping them. There is usually a red cross to be found somewhere in Gilbert’s paintings.

Gilbert Rogers Gassed. 'Ardius Fidelis' show a poor soul lying dead in the muck. His gas mask is on, but perhaps the seal was not tight and the deadly chemicals seeped through. On closer examination we see a red cross on the arm of the fallen, indicating he’s a medical officer. Being a medic was dangerous work, running into the heat of battle to rescue fellow soldiers often lead to their own demise on the battle field.