The Battle of Trafalgar

W L Wyllie (1851-1931). Watercolour signed W L Wyllie (LR). Provenance (label verso): Chris Beetles Limited, 8 & 10 Ryder Street, London SW1.

The Battle of Trafalgar

13.3 x 24.1 cms ( 5 1/4 x 9 1/2 ins) approx

£1900

This original has been sold and is no longer available.

Quite simply, a gorgeous little watercolour by the master's brush with a wealth of detail.  It's newly double mounted in a top rate ivory mount with wash lines, and framed in a narrow gilt molding with brick red undertones showing through: ready to hang. Chris Beetles in St James', London has long dealt in William Wyllie's artwork and the books also that he published so this watercolour's provenance is very sound.  There are inevitably many similarities between this painting and the iconic and very much larger canvas 'Trafalgar: 2.30pm', especially in the way WLW has portrayed the wreckage of spars and rigging and the half drowned survivor in the foreground.