{"product_id":"32862","title":"\"HMS Polyphemus cuts the boom, Berehaven, Ireland, 30th June 1885\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWatercolour \u0026amp; Bodycolour on Artist's Watercolour Board\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e11 3\/4 x 20 inches (32.5 x 51 cm)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSigned \u0026amp; Dated, lower right\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFramed \u0026amp; Glazed\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA wonderful painting by Ian Lowe of a unique British warship, HMS \u003cem\u003ePolyphemus\u003c\/em\u003e, the only purpose-built \"torpedo ram\" built for the Royal Navy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Admiralty wanted to test ways of breaching Russian ports defended by booms and torpedo boats. In an exercise on the 30th June 1885 at Berehaven, Bantry Bay, Ireland, \u003cem\u003ePolyphemus\u003c\/em\u003e was tasked with breaking a boom held by a 5 inch steel cable at the same time evading attacks by torpedo boats.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePolyphemus\u003c\/em\u003e came up to a top speed of nearly 18 knots (8 was considered good at the time for ironclads), evaded six torpedo boats and easily smashed through the boom. It was the high point of her career and we see \u003cem\u003ePolyphemus\u003c\/em\u003e just after she has broken the boom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePolyphemus\u003c\/em\u003e looks very modern for a ship built in 1882; she was low in the water and the first Royal Navy ship to be painted grey, 20 years before this became universal. Additionally she was one of the first RN ships to have electric light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome believe that HMS \u003cem\u003ePolyphemus\u003c\/em\u003e was the inspiration for the ironclad \u003cem\u003eThunder Child\u003c\/em\u003e in HG Wells's \"War of the Worlds\"...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #005500;\"\u003eTo buy the painting or reserve it while obtaining a shipping quote from us\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #005500;\"\u003econtact  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #005500;\"\u003eCharles Mayes - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #005500;\"\u003ecm@marineartists.co.uk   +44(0)20 7352 7759\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #005500;\"\u003e - or buy direct through our secure website   VAT does not apply\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #005500;\"\u003eA larger photograph \/ full description is available on request\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"IAN LOWE (British, Contemporary)","offers":[{"title":"Framed Painting","offer_id":55616623804758,"sku":"-32862","price":2500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1048\/3050\/1206\/files\/Lowe_20-_20Polyphemus_20-_20stamped_84b135c6-21cb-4e78-b62d-09d46b6ce83f.jpg?v=1791279889","url":"https:\/\/marineartists.co.uk\/products\/32862","provider":"Marine Artists","version":"1.0","type":"link"}