Ships of the surrendered German High Seas Fleet in the Forth, November 1918 RMG PW0908, William Lionel Wyllie

Ships of the surrendered german high seas fleet in the forth, november 1918 inscribed and signed by the artist, lower left, 'german warships in the forth / w. L. Wyllie'. The wheeling freedom of a flock of seagulls suggests the return of peace and natural order in the foreground, with the purposeful movement of a launch and (probably naval) trawler in the centre and the dim outline of a german battle-cruiser in the november mist behind. It is probably the 'seydlitz' (1912) - which led the german line into the forth to surrender on 21 november 1918. The fleet was interned in scapa flow from the 24th until scuttled there on 21 june the following year. The smaller ship in the right distance may be a destroyer. Wyllie was present at the surrender and internment of the german fleet, as guest (for a month) of admiral sir charles madden on hms 'revenge'. Date: 1918. Dimensions: 286 mm x 443 mm. Collection: Fine art.