{"product_id":"frank-watson-wood-hms-london-1914-first-world-war-naval-watercolour-dated-1915","title":"Frank Watson Wood HMS London, 1914 – First World War Naval Watercolour, Dated 1915","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrank Watson Wood HMS London, 1914 – First World War Naval Watercolour, 1915\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn Historically Important Royal Navy Watercolour From The Opening Period Of The First World War\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHighlights\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginal British marine watercolour by Frank Watson Wood (1862–1953).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSigned “Frank Wood” lower right.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDated 1915.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInscribed “H.M.S. London 1914”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDepicts HMS London, lead vessel of the London class of Royal Navy pre-dreadnought battleships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContemporary First World War subject.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAssociated historically with HMS London’s service with the 5th Battle Squadron during the opening period of the war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe squadron performed duties connected with protecting the movement of the British Expeditionary Force across the English Channel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistoric handwritten annotation records Midshipman Edmund Walter Anstice’s service aboard HMS London.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnstice later became Vice-Admiral Sir Edmund Walter Anstice KCB.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistoric Dardanelles newspaper cutting retained with the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistoric J. F. Prowse, Plymouth, gilder and picture-frame maker’s label retained.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDocumented Scottish auction provenance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLindsay Burns \u0026amp; Company, Perth, 5 February 2025, Lot 735.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrivately loaned to and exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProfessionally re-presented in a gilt Larson-Juhl frame with Tru Vue UltraVue UV70 anti-reflective protective glazing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA compelling First World War naval watercolour by Frank Watson Wood (1862–1953), one of the accomplished British marine artists closely associated with representations of the Royal Navy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe watercolour depicts HMS London, the lead vessel of the London class of pre-dreadnought battleships, steaming purposefully through open water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWood signed and dated the work in 1915 and inscribed it “H.M.S. London 1914”, connecting the composition directly with the opening period of the First World War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe battleship is presented in full broadside profile, smoke streaming from her twin funnels as she moves through a lively blue-grey sea. Other naval vessels appear on the distant horizon, while seabirds fly low above the water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition combines the technical observation for which Wood’s naval portraits are recognised with an atmospheric treatment of sea and sky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCatalogue Details\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArtist: Frank Watson Wood (1862–1953)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTitle: HMS London, 1914\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDate: 1915\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMedium: Watercolour on paper\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSignature: Signed “Frank Wood” lower right\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDate: 1915\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInscription: “H.M.S. London 1914”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSubject: HMS London, Royal Navy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWatercolour dimensions: approximately 18.5 × 27.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCurrent framed dimensions: approximately 44 × 53 × 2 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCatalogue Note\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe historical importance of the watercolour lies principally in the relationship between its inscription and date.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the outbreak of the First World War HMS London formed part of the 5th Battle Squadron.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe squadron was attached to the Channel Fleet during the opening period of hostilities and undertook duties associated with protecting the movement of the British Expeditionary Force across the English Channel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWood’s inscription “H.M.S. London 1914”, together with his signature and date of 1915, strongly suggests that the watercolour was conceived as a contemporary commemoration of the battleship during this important phase of her wartime career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile this historical interpretation is consistent with the evidence, it has not been established that Wood intended to portray one particular BEF crossing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Anstice Association\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe work is accompanied by historically interesting handwritten material concerning Edmund Walter Anstice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn in 1899, Anstice entered Royal Navy service as a teenager and served aboard HMS London as a midshipman during the First World War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe subsequently served during the Dardanelles campaign and was wounded.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnstice went on to enjoy a distinguished naval career, eventually attaining the rank of Vice-Admiral and becoming Sir Edmund Walter Anstice KCB.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe historic handwritten annotation preserved with the watercolour explicitly connects Anstice with HMS London.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts survival alongside a Frank Watson Wood watercolour of the same ship dated 1915 creates an intriguing possibility that the picture may once have possessed a personal connection with Anstice or his family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWood is known to have produced portraits of individual ships for naval officers associated with them, making the possibility worthy of further research.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, documentary evidence establishing that this particular watercolour was originally commissioned by, presented to or owned by Anstice or his family has not presently been identified. The association is therefore recorded without asserting an Anstice family provenance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrank Watson Wood\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank Watson Wood was born at Berwick-upon-Tweed on 19 September 1862.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter artistic training and a period working in art education, he became a professional painter and developed a particular reputation for marine and naval subjects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWood’s move to Portsmouth brought him into close contact with the Royal Navy. Serving and retired naval officers commissioned paintings of ships with which they had been associated, enabling him to develop a detailed understanding of contemporary warships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis work also attracted royal patronage, with King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra acquiring examples of his watercolours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1918 Wood was among the artists granted access aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth to witness and record the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis privileged access reinforces Wood’s position as an important artistic recorder of the Royal Navy during the First World War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe continued to paint naval and maritime subjects throughout his long career and died in 1953.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHMS London\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHMS London was laid down at Portsmouth Dockyard in December 1898, launched in September 1899 and completed in June 1902.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe was the lead vessel of the London class of pre-dreadnought battleships and displaced approximately 14,700 long tons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing the outbreak of the First World War she served with the 5th Battle Squadron and Channel Fleet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLondon subsequently participated in the Dardanelles campaign in 1915 and supported Allied operations in the Mediterranean and Adriatic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the final stages of the war she was converted for service as a minelayer and operated with the Grand Fleet’s 1st Minelaying Squadron.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe was placed in reserve following the war and subsequently broken up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistoric Verso Documentation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe surviving historical material associated with the watercolour deserves particular attention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn old handwritten annotation records specifications relating to HMS London together with details concerning Edmund Walter Anstice’s service aboard the battleship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn old newspaper cutting preserved with the picture concerns the fuse of the first shell reported to have struck HMS London during operations at the Dardanelles and its subsequent presentation to the Lord Mayor of London.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA surviving trade label reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJ. F. Prowse\u003cbr\u003eLate Randle \u0026amp; Prowse\u003cbr\u003eHouse Decorator\u003cbr\u003eGilder \u0026amp; Picture Frame Maker\u003cbr\u003e200 Union Street\u003cbr\u003ePlymouth\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis historical documentary material has been preserved following the later reframing of the watercolour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrivate Scottish collection, according to previous cataloguing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLindsay Burns \u0026amp; Company, Perth, Scotland, Antiques \u0026amp; Interiors, 5 February 2025, Lot 735, catalogued as “Frank Wood HMS London, 1914 watercolour, signed lower right, dated 1915”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrivately loaned to and exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFraming History\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen catalogued by Lindsay Burns \u0026amp; Company in February 2025, the watercolour was recorded as measuring 18.5 × 27.5 cm and was contained within a frame measuring approximately 29 × 38 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has subsequently been professionally re-presented in a larger traditional gilt Larson-Juhl frame with a new mount and Tru Vue UltraVue UV70 anti-reflective protective glazing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistoric labels, annotations and documentary material associated with the earlier presentation have been preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWatercolour: approximately 18.5 cm high × 27.5 cm wide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCurrent frame: approximately 44 cm high × 53 cm wide × 2 cm deep.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition Report\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOffered in good antique condition consistent with age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAreas of age-related foxing and staining are visible to the paper, particularly within portions of the lighter sky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe watercolour nevertheless retains good definition, attractive colour and atmospheric maritime tonality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe work has been professionally re-presented behind specialist protective glazing and is ready for wall display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease refer closely to the accompanying photographs as these form an integral part of the condition report.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWorldwide shipping is available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe framed watercolour will be professionally packaged using appropriate protective materials and dispatched fully insured.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInternational buyers are welcome. Please contact us for a destination-specific delivery quotation or to discuss any particular shipping requirements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCertificate of Sale \u0026amp; Dealer Attribution\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale \u0026amp; Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttribution and Research\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpecialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdditional photographs and further information are available upon request.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55145883926906,"sku":"k30000","price":13500.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0201\/2227\/1808\/files\/hmslondon.jpg?v=1741957547","url":"https:\/\/cheshireantiquesconsultantltd.com\/ga-it\/products\/frank-watson-wood-hms-london-1914-first-world-war-naval-watercolour-dated-1915","provider":"Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD","version":"1.0","type":"link"}