"The Aviation Art community has lost a giant of an artist. The great British artist, Robert Taylor has passed on after a short illness. Robert leaves in his wake a body of work and a legacy that will last for decades if not hundreds of years. I first remember seeing the Robert Taylor painting, Eagle Squadron Scramble, in the late 1980's. I was enamored with the piece and for the first time saw my desire to paint aviation subjects as a viable career option. Over the next few years I watched for his new releases and made note of his incredible way he created compositions that put the viewer in the middle of the action. He had an innate ability to use a simple brushstroke of color or line to indicate an aircraft detail or the 3 dimensionality of a cloud or landscape. Robert was like a Maestro with a brush, and in many pieces, created a crescendo of action through color and composition. He was truly a master at the easel. Taylor, along with a select group of others, had a huge influence on me as a young artist and many other up and coming aviation artist's of my generation and those since. When Robert combined forces with publisher Pat Barnard of the Military Gallery and the legendary dealer Virginia Bader, they formed a marketing juggernaut. That team created a frenzied interest in collecting Aviation Art for the sheer beauty, drama and historical stories that his paintings told. Along the way, Robert's work established Aviation Art as a legitimate art genre' and opened the door for artist's like myself to have similar career's doing something we love so much. I would like to pass on my most sincere condolences to the Taylor family and friends of Robert Taylor. And finally I tip my hat in salute to Sir Robert and thank him for the gift of his talent, influence and tutelage as an artist and mentor to many. You will remain an Icon in the world of art and your legacy will outlast the years and artists who've followed in your footsteps. May you now paint in the most beautiful of places to a new crowd of admirers.....I know they will love and appreciate your work as much as we did. Godspeed, Robert Taylor." Rick Herter Art