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The Fleet: Monitors

Impression: Hunterian Art Gallery
Hunterian Art Gallery
(46923)
Number: 306
Date: 1887
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 143 x 223 mm
Signed: butterfly at lower left
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 2
Known impressions: 12
Catalogues: K.318; M.315; W.239
Impressions taken from this plate  (12)
The Fleet: Monitors dates from 1887. The fiftieth anniversary of the coronation of Queen Victoria (1819-1901) was celebrated in 1887. Jubilee celebrations included a Naval Review at Spithead a glorious summer day, on 23 July 1887. The Times gave a full account of the Naval Review, describing it as 'Significant, imposing, and beautiful'; it included 135 ships and 20,000 men, under the command of Admiral Sir George Willes. 1

Whistler as President of the Society of British Artists was invited to attend. During the day he made twelve etchings, the ' Jubilee Set', as well as a watercolour and pencil sketches. Other etchings done on the same day include Troopships 307, The Visitors' Boat 303 and The Turret Ship 305.

1: 'The Jubilee Naval Review', The Times, London, 25 July 1887, p. 7.