HMS ROYAL OAK, HMS REVENGE, HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN, AND HMS RESOLUTION
(MP091). Frank Watson Wood (1862-1953). Watercolour signed and dated 1938.
Limited Edition worldwide: 49 copies
17 x 11.25 ins (43 x 28.6 cms) approx
£145-180
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Discovered in a picture gallery in Arizona, USA in September 2005, this is a magnificent great watercolour – it measures 29 x 19 ins (74 x 48 cms) showing the 2nd Battle Squadron, Home Fleet ploughing their way through a lively sea on a bright day.
Leading the squadron is HMS ROYAL OAK (Captain T B Drew OBE RN) wearing the flag of Rear Admiral 2nd Battle Squadron, Rear Admiral L D I MacKinnon CB CVO. In line astern are REVENGE (Captain W F Wake-Walker OBE RN), ROYAL SOVEREIGN (Captain J W S Dorling RN) and RESOLUTION (Captain C H Knox-Little RN). The fifth ship of the 2nd BS, RAMILLIES, was in refit. Ships are dressed with masthead ensigns and Wood’s brush suggests that a man ship party is mustered in the for’ard waist of ROYAL OAK ceremonial signs that are indications a steam past is perhaps in progress?
Provenance: An art gallery in Arizona, USA and thence (September 2005) to a private collection