William Lionel Wyllie, RA (British, 1851-1931)
HMS Victory, newly restored, with visitors alongside her dry dock at Portsmouth preparing to aboard
signed and dated 'W L Wyllie/1928' (lower left)
watercolour and pencil
66.1 x 102.9cm (26 x 40 1/2in).
Footnotes:
Provenance
With Malcolm Henderson, London.
Jonathan Janson, UK.

Nelson's old flagship was still afloat in Portsmouth Harbour when the Great War ended in 1918, but in such a parlous state that a speedy decision was taken to restore her as a visitor attraction and place her in her own dry dock. W.L. Wyllie was a prime mover in the campaign to save her and the historic ship was finally opened to the public by King George V on 17th July 1928, with this work clearly painted to commemorate the completion of the project.

Please note this work is framed and under glass and has not been examined out of its frame.

The paper slightly undulates along the left and right mount edges. There are a few minor surface scuffs and marks to the sheet, including a horizontal abrasion approx 3cm halfway down the right mount edge.

The are a few scattered pale fox marks and bleach marks to old foxing and there appears to be some very light acidification through the sheet. The work appears to be in average colour with some possible fading through the sky.

Overall the work appears to be in good presentable order and is ready to hang.