"The Departure of the Cutty Sark from Tower Bridge, London c. 1895"

Artist-Signed and Numbered Limited Edition Print

Edition of 475 on Paper

Image size: 15 x 22 inches (38 x 56 cm)

Paper size: 17 3/4 x 25 inches (45 x 63.5 cm)

Signed, numbered and titled by the artist in pencil below the image

Unframed prints on paper are supplied rolled in strong cardboard tubes.

This limited edition has not been on the market for nearly thirty years; it was originally published in 1990 and Marine Artists, London, have rediscovered and purchased the remaining prints from the edition.

It is possible that Francis Smitheman was the nicest man who ever lived, as well as being a marine painter of the first rank. It gives us the greatest pleasure to bring these examples of his work back to public notice.

In his book "The Marine Paintings of Smitheman", published in 2009, Francis described the painting from which this limited edition is taken:

"The Cutty Sark is being towed down river from the recently opened Tower Bridge. I think I took some liberty with showing so many sails set, though ships did try to dry out wet sails when they could. I worked closely with the Master and crew when painting the work and they seemed to see nothing untoward."

Francis was utterly devoted to his French wife Gladys; although it is not clear in this photograph, it may be seen in the print that the name on the stern of the ship anchored at the left of the composition is Gladys Marie...