Frank Watson Wood Royal Navy Watercolour HMS London 1914, Dated 1915

Frank Watson Wood Royal Navy Watercolour HMS London 1914, Dated 1915

A historically compelling First World War marine watercolour by the British artist Frank Watson Wood (1862-1953), depicting the Royal Navy pre-dreadnought battleship HMS London.

Signed Frank Wood lower right, dated 1915 and inscribed H.M.S. London 1914.

The battleship is depicted in full broadside profile steaming through an atmospheric blue-grey sea, smoke issuing from her twin funnels beneath a lightly clouded sky. Other vessels appear on the distant horizon while seabirds fly low above the water.

The work combines Wood's characteristic attention to the structure and identity of the vessel with an atmospheric handling of sea and sky.

Catalogue Details

Artist: Frank Watson Wood (1862-1953)

Title: HMS London, 1914

Date: 1915

Medium: Watercolour on paper

Signature: Signed Frank Wood lower right

Date: 1915

Inscription: H.M.S. London 1914

Watercolour dimensions: approximately 18.5 x 27.5 cm

Current framed dimensions: approximately 44 x 53 x 2 cm

Historical Context

At the outbreak of the First World War HMS London formed part of the Royal Navy's 5th Battle Squadron.

The squadron was attached to the Channel Fleet during the opening phase of the conflict and undertook duties associated with protecting the movement of the British Expeditionary Force across the English Channel.

The inscription H.M.S. London 1914, together with Wood's date of 1915, therefore places the picture within an important period in the battleship's history.

The work may commemorate London during these opening wartime operations, although there is presently insufficient documentary evidence to identify the composition with one specific BEF crossing.

The Anstice Association

Historic handwritten material preserved with the picture records the connection between HMS London and Edmund Walter Anstice.

Born in 1899, Anstice entered wartime Royal Navy service while still a teenager and served aboard HMS London as a midshipman.

He subsequently participated in the Dardanelles campaign and was wounded.

Anstice later pursued a distinguished naval career, eventually becoming Vice-Admiral Sir Edmund Walter Anstice KCB.

The survival of the handwritten Anstice annotation alongside a Frank Watson Wood portrait of HMS London dated 1915 creates an intriguing potential personal association.

Wood is known to have produced ship portraits for naval officers associated with the vessels represented.

It is consequently possible that the watercolour possessed an early connection with Anstice or his family. However, documentary evidence proving an Anstice commission or family provenance has not presently been established and no such claim is made.

Frank Watson Wood

Born at Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1862, Frank Watson Wood developed into a successful British marine painter particularly associated with Royal Navy subjects.

His move to Portsmouth brought him into contact with serving and retired naval officers, from whom he received commissions for portraits of ships with which they had served.

His patrons included King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

In 1918 Wood was among the artists granted access aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth to record the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow.

His naval works consequently possess considerable interest both as marine paintings and as visual records of British warships during the late Victorian, Edwardian and First World War periods.

HMS London

HMS London was the lead vessel of the London class of Royal Navy pre-dreadnought battleships.

Laid down at Portsmouth Dockyard in December 1898, she was launched in September 1899 and completed in 1902.

Following the outbreak of the First World War, London served with the 5th Battle Squadron and Channel Fleet.

In 1915 she participated in the Dardanelles campaign before continuing Allied operations in Mediterranean and Adriatic waters.

During the closing stages of the war London was converted for minelaying service and operated with the Grand Fleet.

Historic Verso Material

An important group of historical material survives with the picture.

An old handwritten annotation records technical information concerning HMS London and specifically refers to Edmund Walter Anstice's service aboard her.

An old newspaper cutting concerns the fuse of the first shell reported to have struck HMS London during the Dardanelles campaign and its subsequent presentation to the Lord Mayor of London.

Also retained is a historic trade label for:

J. F. Prowse
Late Randle & Prowse
House Decorator
Gilder & Picture Frame Maker
200 Union Street
Plymouth

This documentary material has been preserved following the watercolour's later reframing.

Provenance

Private Scottish collection, according to previous cataloguing.

Lindsay Burns & Company, Perth, Scotland, Antiques & Interiors, 5 February 2025, Lot 735, catalogued as Frank Wood HMS London, 1914 watercolour, signed lower right, dated 1915.

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.

Privately loaned to and exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire.

Framing History

The February 2025 auction record documented the watercolour at approximately 18.5 x 27.5 cm and its former frame at approximately 29 x 38 cm.

The work 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.

Historic documentary material associated with the former presentation has been retained.

Condition Report

Offered in good antique condition consistent with age.

There are areas of age-related foxing and staining to the paper, particularly within lighter passages.

The watercolour nevertheless remains highly presentable and retains good detail and attractive maritime tonality.

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of the condition report.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available.

The framed watercolour will be professionally packaged using appropriate protective materials and dispatched fully insured.

International buyers are welcome. Please contact us for a destination-specific delivery quotation or to discuss any particular shipping requirements.

Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & 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.

Attribution and Research

The 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.

These 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.

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®

Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.

Every 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.

Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.