Robert Strickland Thomas

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in good condition, and has been cleaned. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals retouching to the right hand side of the canvas, as well as a small area of retouching in the sky, in the centre of the canvas, and scattered small retouchings in the upper left. There is infilling to craquelure overall. FRAME In a British Baroque carved and gilded frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The steam ship seen in the far left of this painting gives a clue to the identity of the Man-of-War flying the red ensign in the centre of the composition. The first steam boats used by the Royal Navy appeared in 1813, by which time the navy's 'Ship List' records only three 100-gun ships still in service; H.M.S. Royal Soverign, H.M.S. Britannia (renamed H.M.S. St George in 1812), and H.M.S. Royal George. Of these three the only one whose disposition of cannon corresponds to that of the present painting is the latter, a 100 gun 1^st rate ship of the line. A sketch of the Royal George's lines is illustrated on page 125 of Brian Lavery's book The Ship of the Line, published in 1983.

When she was first commissioned in 1788 the Royal George was the largest 1^st rate ship of her time, at 190ft long with a full crew of 850 men. Built at Chatham and originally laid down as Umpire, she was renamed before being launched and took part in Lord Howe's action of the Glorious First of June; the first major sea encounter of the Revolutionary War (1793-1801). She was later Lord Bridport's flagship in the action off Groix Island, in 1795, and was Sir John Duckworth's flagship when he and his squadron forced the passage of the Dardanelles under fire from the forts and castles above in 1807. She was finally decommissioned and broken up in 1822.