Sketch of a Short seaplane on the water RMG PW1792, William Lionel Wyllie, 1914

Sketch of a short seaplane on the water iinscribed and signed by the artist, ' a short / w. L. Wyllie', lower left. Below the watercolour study is a pencil sketch showing the same or a similar plane moving fast in the water, with the inscriptions 'short' and '11¼ x 7' [inches] to the right which (with the pencil margin to the watercolour) suggests the sheet is preparation for an illustration. Short brothers built a number of very similar types of seaplane and there were variations with each - of engine, dimensions, or number of bays between the wings. This is one of type 827, type 830 or type 184 but in this sketch wyllie has further confused the situation by only clearly showing two bays on the port side (though the thrd is there in pencil) and three bays on the starboard side. Two bombs are shown below the fuselage and the pilot is in the cockpit. Date: 1914. Dimensions: Sheet: 254 x 353 mm. Collection: Fine art.