Study of a surrendered German cruiser at Scapa Flow, probably the 'Karlsruhe' RMG PW1869, William Lionel Wyllie, probably 1918

Study of a surrendered german cruiser at scapa flow, probably the 'karlsruhe' inscribed by the artist, 'hun cruiser', lower right. Among the ships interned at scapa flow, there were five german cruisers that had raised funnels: 'karlsruhe', 'emden', 'nürnberg', 'cöln' and 'dresden'. This is probably the 'karlsruhe' which is the only one that other general visual sources (mainly photos) show with her topmasts lowered. All photos of 'emden' and 'nürnberg', including when beached at scapa, show them with high topmasts. All photos of 'cöln' and 'dresden' up to the time of their sinking also show them with high topmasts. In this study, an unidentified german destroyer is alongside. Wyllie spent a month as a guest of admiral sir charles madden on board hms 'revenge' at the time of the surrender and subsequent internment of the german fleet at scapa, and made many such studies on the spot. [btodd/pvdm 5/13]. Date: probably 1918. Dimensions: Sheet: 322 x 448 mm. Collection: Fine art.