• Eric TUFNELL — The Battle of Cape Matapan: the sinking of RM Pola; 29th March 1941
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Eric TUFNELL (1888-1979)

"The Battle of Cape Matapan: the sinking of RM Pola, 29th March 1941"

"The Battle of Cape Matapan: the sinking of RM Pola, 29th March 1941"

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Type

Watercolour

10 x 14 1/2 inches (25250 x 36 cm)

Signed, lower right

Inscribed, lower left

Framed in a wash-and-line mount and gold frame

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Even by the standards of Eric Tufnell, a Royal Navy officer, this painting shows exceptional levels of detail and quality. It depicts the extraordinary story of the final moments of the Italian heavy cruiser RM Pola following the Battle of Cape Matapan in March 1941.

Pola was immobilised by a torpedo hit, losing power and unable to work her gun turrets. The British located her by radar late on the 28th of March and destroyed the Italian ships accompanying her, Ziume and Zara as well as two Italian destroyers. Realising his ship would be next, her captain ordered her scuttled and the crew to abandon ship.

The British destroyer HMS Havock (seen at the right of the painting) discovered the darkened, powerless Pola. Another destroyer, HMS Jervis illuminated her with her searchlights as shown here and, once the remaining crew had been evacuated, HMS Nubian sank Pola with two torpedoes.

Tufnell’s painting is inscribed 4.10 A M 29 MARCH 1941 and a label on the reverse of the watercolour itself, typewritten in red, records further details of the scene shown.

The subject of ships illuminated by searchlight is extremely difficult to paint and, together with the minute detail of the ships, shows Eric Tufnell at the height of his powers.

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Framing

PRINTS & PAINTINGS ON PAPER 

We use a simple classic frame, gold finish over a black ground, approximately 1 3/4 inches (4.4 cm) in width with off-white acid-free mount 2 1/2 to 3 inches (6.5 - 7.5 cm) wide. Pictures are framed under glass and fitted with wire ready for hanging.

For larger pictures that are to be shipped we can use perspex instead of glass for security in transit - we may contact you to discuss this. Frame example shown above. 

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For pictures on canvas we use a simple classic frame with a gold finish and a white slip next to the canvas, approximately 3 1/2 inches (9 cm) in width. Pictures are framed like an oil painting with no glass and fitted with wire ready for hanging. Frame example shown above.

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