Surrendered German battleships in the Firth of Forth, probably at dawn RMG PW1875, William Lionel Wyllie, 1918

Surrendered german battleships in the firth of forth, probably at dawn signed and inscribed by the artist, 'huns in the forth', lower right. The apparent viewpoint, looking east, suggests this may be a dawn view rather than an evening one as it may immediately seem. The date represented is 21 - 23 november 1918 (though, if morning, 22-23). The ship in starboard-broadside view to left of centre is a german 'kaiser'-class battleship and that beyond in the centre is a 'könig'-class battleship. The ship approaching on the right also appears to be 'könig'-class. The grand fleet had escorted the german high seas fleet into the forth on 21 november, where it formally surrendered, before being moved into internment at scapa flow from the 24th. Wyllie was present as a guest of admiral sir charles madden in hms 'revenge', staying for a month on board. Date: 1918. Dimensions: Sheet: 219 x 320 mm; Mount: 386 mm x 487 mm. Collection: Fine art.