Study of the 'Emden' or 'Nürnberg, German light cruisers, at Scapa Flow after being refloated in 1919 RMG PW1870, William Lionel Wyllie, probably 1919

Study of the 'emden' or 'nürnberg, german light cruisers, at scapa flow after being refloated in 1919 inscribed by the artist, 'hun cruiser', lower right. The main subject here is either the 'emden' or 'nürnberg after being refloated at scapa flow in july 1919. They were both scuttled with the rest of the german fleet on 21 june but intervening british forces managed to beach them before they sank. An r-class british battleship and destroyers of the grand fleet are in the right background and a so-far unidentified steam yacht moored up behind the german cruiser. The 'emden' was badly damaged but was given to france in march 1920 and used as an explosives trials target before being scrapped at caen in 1926. The 'nürnberg' was used by britain as a gunnery target and, as such, was sunk off the isle of wight by the battlecruiser 'repulse' (1916) on 7 july 1922. Date: probably 1919. Dimensions: Sheet: 319 x 451 mm. Collection: Fine art.