This is a fine and rare 'Ship's Portrait' of a British Navy Cruiser of the 'Monmouth' Class, done by a Japanese 'Treaty Port' painter - probably Yokahama - circa 1910. It is watercolor/guache on paper and signed 'J.H. Watanabe'. This artist created a beautiful portrait of one of the British warships that patroled the seas guarding British interests at the height of the 'British Empire'. Watanabe rendered the cruiser in incredible detail and handled both sky and sea with great sensitivity. We believe he was commissioned to do so by one of the ship's officers and thus signed the painting in english.

Ship portraits done by 'Treaty Port' (locations Westerners were allowed to trade on the Chinese and Japanese coasts) artists were commissioned by ship's officers and had to be particularly fine renderings of the ships they portrayed. This class of painting became popular on the Chinese coast during the eighteenth century. Japan did not accept general 'Foreign Trade' until after the middle of the nineteenth century. Consequently Japanese 'Ship portraits' are rare, especially since photography came into popularity after 1900.

This handsome three stack cruiser is one of the 'MONMOUTH' class of the 1890s. We have pictured a page from 'Jane's Fighting Ships, 1913 ed., to provide technical details of this class of cruiser. Fast, relatively heavily armed warships of this type were employed protecting British interests and fighting pirates throughout the 'China Seas'.

This handsome painting is in fine original condition with fine color. It is framed in an antique birdseye maple frame with gilt liner. This is an especially fine piece for the collector.

Please review our several pages of detailed pictures of this painting by clicking on the picture above.

Image 12" x 10"
Frame 16 1/2" x 14 1/2"
Price: $695.00