The 'teutonic' leaving liverpool, by william lionel wyllie. A portrait of the white star liner, rms teutonic, leaving liverpool in july 1889. The ship was built in 1889 for the atlantic trade by harland & wolff ltd in belfast, for ismay imrie & co. Of liverpool, the white star owners. When launched, teutonic caused a sensation because she and her sister ship, rms majestic (1890), were the first luxury liners to be specially designed for potential use as armed merchant cruisers, with gun mountings, magazines and additional bunkerage. She is shown here as a brand new ship in port-bow view, sailing for the spithead review held in honour of kaiser wilhelm ii of germany on 4 august 1889. Teutonic is also shown flying the blue ensign from the stern (the colour of the royal naval reserve and auxiliary forces) and the white star flag (a white star on a red ground). She has two funnels painted yellow and set far enough apart to enable the saloon to be placed in between. She is flanked by two attendant tugs and the city of liverpool is visible behind her in the left distance. Sails of sailing ships, representing another age, are shown amongst the funnels and seagulls are featured on the water. The artist and his wife were among the white star guests who sailed on teutonic from liverpool for the spithead review, and he made sketches on board. The prince of wales admired these and showed them to the kaiser, who later instituted a similar scheme of his own for auxiliary cruisers. The 'teutonic' leaving liverpool, 1889. Object Type: painting. Date: 1889. Dimensions: 915 mm x 1524 mm. Medium: oil on canvas. Collection: Royal Museums Greenwich. Teutonic leaving Liverpool
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