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Charles Pears (1873-1958). Oil painting signed not dated.
This magnificent bow view of REVENGE gives some idea of just how massive and seemingly impregnable these leviathans were. Not that REVENGE and her sisters (ROYAL OAK, RAMILLIES, REVENGE, and ROYAL SOVEREIGN) were by any means the biggest of them, for at 28,000 tons displacement and 624 feet long, they were slightly smaller than the Queen Elizabeths who preceeded them, and much smaller than the Nelsons, King George Vs and VANGUARD who followed them.

They were a good couple of knots slower than the QEs too. The only ship of the class completed in time for Jutland, there is a salty story about REVENGE (the 9th of the name in the RN) which survives to this day . . .

Charles Pears is well known for his clear, uncluttered compositions and bold, vigorous and colourful brushwork. In 1939 he became the first President of what is now the Royal Society of Marine Artists, from whom the copyright of this painting has been obtained. The owners of the picture are the Naval Club of Mayfair who were presented with it by the artist himself.

Limited Edition: 300
Standard size 27 x 23ins (68 x 58cms) approx.