{"product_id":"22766","title":"\"The Battle of Cape Matapan: the sinking of RM Pola, 29th March 1941\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWatercolour\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e10 x 14 1\/2 inches (25250 x 36 cm)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSigned, lower right\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInscribed, lower left\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFramed in a wash-and-line mount and gold frame\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSOLD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEven 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 \u003ci style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"\u003ePola\u003c\/i\u003e following the Battle of Cape Matapan in March 1941.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePola\u003c\/i\u003e was immobilised by a torpedo hit, losing power and unable to work her gun turrets. The British located her by radar late on the 28\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of March and destroyed the Italian ships accompanying her, \u003ci\u003eZiume\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eZara\u003c\/i\u003e as well as two Italian destroyers. Realising his ship would be next, her captain ordered her scuttled and the crew to abandon ship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe British destroyer HMS \u003ci\u003eHavock\u003c\/i\u003e (seen at the right of the painting) discovered the darkened, powerless \u003ci\u003ePola\u003c\/i\u003e. Another destroyer, HMS \u003ci\u003eJervis\u003c\/i\u003e illuminated her with her searchlights as shown here and, once the remaining crew had been evacuated, HMS \u003ci\u003eNubian\u003c\/i\u003e sank \u003ci\u003ePola\u003c\/i\u003e with two torpedoes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTufnell’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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Eric TUFNELL (1888-1979)","offers":[{"title":"Framed Watercolour","offer_id":55616587694422,"sku":"-22766","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1048\/3050\/1206\/files\/Tufnell_20-_20RM_20Pola_20-_20large_20stamped_202_20-_20JP_20-_20DSC_5649_909c3e9e-f154-4532-a07d-72a29bd7445f.jpg?v=1791279716","url":"https:\/\/marineartists.co.uk\/products\/22766","provider":"Marine Artists","version":"1.0","type":"link"}