Hammer

£5,500

CLAUDE STANSFIELD-MOORE (BRITISH, 1853-1901)

H.M.S. 'Britannia' firing a salute at sunset

signed 'Claude T. S. Moore, 79' (lower left)

oil on canvas

19 1/2 x 29 1/4in. (49.5 x 74cm.)

H.M.S. Britannia, a large first-rate of 120 guns and one of the biggest ships of her day, was begun in 1813 but not completed until 1820 by which time the need for capital ships had been greatly reduced by the ending of the Napoleonic Wars. Measured at 2,616 tons, she was first commissioned in 1823 and, after several spells with the Mediterranean Fleet, served as flagship to Vice-Admiral Dundas in the Black Sea during the Crimean War (1854-56). Laid up thereafter, in 1859 she became the first training ship exclusively for naval cadets based at Portsmouth but was moved to a permanent home at Dartmouth in 1863. Although broken up in 1869, she was replaced by another vessel and then by buildings ashore, all of which took her name to perpetuate the tradition.

Fine condition. Two patches. Needs cleaning.