Historical information

RMS Queen Elizabeth that sailed primarily on the North Atlantic Ocean from 1939 to 1968 for the Cunard Line , later owned by the Queen Corpration and then the Seawise University. Queen Elizabeth was a slightly larger ship (than the Queen Mary) , the largest passenger liner ever built at that time and for 56 years thereafter. She also has the distinction of being the largest-ever riveted ship by gross tonnage. She first entered service in February 1940 as a troopship in World War II, and it was not until October 1946 that she served in her intended role as an ocean liner.
With the decline in popularity of the transatlantic route, both ships were replaced by the smaller. Queen Elizabeth was sold to a succession of buyers, and finally was sold to Hong Kong businessman of the Orient Overseas line in 1970. In 1972, whilst she was undergoing refurbishment in Hong Kong harbour, fire broke out aboard under unexplained circumstances, and the ship was capsized by the water used to fight the fire.

Physical description

Long framed unglazed landscape format painting predominantly depicting in foreground an ocean liner painted black hull and white superstructure with two funnel stacks painted red with black trim, under full sail against a blue sky. The back of the painting is covered with brown paper in places damaged. Hanging cord missing . Remnant Brown paper backing.

Inscriptions & markings

at lower right corner single uc word in white paint : "CV WRIGHT (artist symbol of crossed anchors) / 3 ? '71"