HMS 'Victory 'at Portsmouth, on Trafalgar Day (21 October), prior to her restoration RMG PW2186, William Lionel Wyllie, circa 1921

Hms 'victory 'at portsmouth, on trafalgar day (21 october), prior to her restoration signed by the artist, in the lower left margin. The ship is shown in port-broadside view, with a wreath hoisted high in her rigging and flying nelson's trafalgar signal ('england expects. . ' , etc). Although only an indicative representation, the battleship in the far right background is most probably one of the 'r'-class after coffee-pot searchlight towers were introduced on the pole mainmast in 1917. This etching is one of a pair, the other showing the victory' in the 'trafalgar condition' that the 'save the victory' campaign planned to restore her to when she was moved into permanent dry-dock at portsmouth in 1921. Wyllie made them for sale in support of the campaign when it was launched in 1921-22, as mentioned in geoffrey callender's obituary tribute to him in the 'mariner's mirror' (vol. Xvii, april 1931), though callender calls them 'drypoints', which does not appear to be strictly the case. [btodd/pvdm 6/13]. Date: circa 1921. Dimensions: Sheet: 270 x 391 mm; Plate: 153 x 253 mm. Collection: Fine art.