A Lost Prize, Port Arthur RMG PW1225, William Lionel Wyllie, circa 1904

A lost prize, port arthur this monochrome drawing is typical of the drawings that wyllie produced for reproduction in the early 1900s. This one was almost certainly produced for the 'illustrated london news' at the beginning of the russo-japanese war, probably in february 1904. Actually published in the graphic 14 may 1904. The graphic: a lost prize: an incident of the torpedo attack at port arthur. Port arthur. During the torpedo attack on port arthur on march 10 the second japanese flotilla, which had been engaged in laying mines, found two russian destroyers just coming back into the harbour, and attacked them. One of the two escaped, but the other the "stereguchtschi," was captured by the japanese destroyer "sasanami," which tried to tow it back. The russian boat was damaged and was leaking badly, and the sea being rough, it was found necessary to cut the tow rope and abandon the vessel, which afterwards sank. Read the los angeles herald, volume xxxi, number 167, 14 march 1904] by this time, wood engraving had been replaced by a photographic process to reproduce artists' work, and this made it possible for more dramatic effects to be achieved. In addition to the grey and black wash, wyllie has used opaque white for vivid light effects. A lost prize, port arthur. Date: circa 1904. Dimensions: 271 x 371 mm. Collection: Fine art.