"The German Battleship Bismarck goes into Action: Bismarck prepares to engage HMS Hood & HMS Prince of Wales, the Battle of the Denmark Strait, 24th May 1941"

Artist-Signed Limited Edition of 500 on Paper 

Image size: 16 1/2 x 23 1/2 inches (42 x 60 cm)

Paper size: 21 1/4 x 27 1/2 inches (54 x 70 cm)

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

World-wide exclusive - only available from Marine Artists

Maarten Platje has painted an exceptional pair of oil paintings showing one of the most famous and emotive sea battles of the Second World War.

This painting depicts the great German battleship Bismarck early on the morning of the 24th May 1941 as she prepares to engage the British force led by the pride of the British navy, the battlescruiser HMS Hood and the battleship HMS Prince of Wales.

For both sides this dawn was deadly serious as they knew battle was imminent; and very shortly after the moment shown in this painting the Hood had been sunk with the loss of all but three of her crew.

For a Britain that had been suffering defeats and enduring the air raids of the Blitz, the sinking of HMS HoodbyBismarckand the heavy cruiserPrinz Eugenwas a terrible blow to national morale - Hood had been the ultimate symbol of British sea-power throughout the inter-War period. A massive British effort ensured that Bismarck was sunk andHoodthus "avenged" three days later.

It is doubtful that any previous painter has captured so well the ominous lighting and atmosphere of that terrible daybreak as has Maarten Platje in these two paintings.