HMS Karakatta by Harry Price
HMS Karakatta by Harry Price
A watercolour and gouache on board of HMS Karakatta by Harry Price.
HMS Karakatta was a Sharpshooter Class Torpedo Gunboat built by Armstrong Whitworth of Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne and launched in 1889. She was commissioned in 1891 and spent her whole career as part of the Auxiliary Squadron of the Australia Station before being sold off in 1905 at Portsmouth. Price probably first encountered her in 1901, at Sydney whilst on HMSY Ophir as he illustrated her in his diary of the Royal Tour.
The painting is signed 'H.W.P. 1907' to the right, below the bow of the ship with 'Chatham' written to the bottom edge. The back of the board has a label noting 'H.M.S Karakatta, H.W. Price, 1907'. Also written in pencil directly to the board is H.M.S Karakatta, RAN, 1907, 9.'
Like Price's painting of HMS Marathon done in the same year, this picture was made after the ship had left Royal Navy service and Price may have intended it for publication. He may well have been working from previous sketches he made of the ship in Sydney or a photograph. The painting is similar to that of Marathon and Hansa, showing Karakatta at sea and in good detail. Dated 1907.
Dimensions:
1907
Watercolour & Gouache on Board
England
H.W.P. 1907
Royal Naval Ship Painting
Unframed. Some uneven edges and shadow marks suggesting it's previously been framed.
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