W M Birchall (American; b.1884). watercolour with added body colour; signed and dated 1914 (LL); annotated as titled above by the artist (LL).
£Price on aplication
The story of the Battle of Coronel in 1914 is well known and much painted: this watercolour shows Admiral Sturdee’s cruisers avenging that loss. Verso on the watercolour in pencil is written (in the artist’s hand?): “At 7.30 a.m. on Dec 8th the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, NURNBERG, Leipzig and Dresden were sighted near the Falkland Is by a British Squadron under Vice Ad Sir Fredk Sturdee. An action followed and four of the above named ships were sunk the Dresden alone making good her escape. This victory avenged the loss of the Good Hope and Monmouth”. This description is repeated on the original backing board of the old frame and is available with the painting itself.