Lot 18: WILLIAM FREDERICK MITCHELL (1845-1914) The

WILLIAM FREDERICK MITCHELL (1845-1914) The battleship Neptune at anchor offshore at dusk Watercolour Signed and inscribed W.F. Mitchell 1879-1938 (lower left) 5 x 7½in. (12.5 x 19cm.); together with a preparatory sketch for the battleship Albemarle, pen and ink heightened with watercolour, signed W. Fred Mitchell (lower right) -- 6½ x 9in. (16.5 x 23cm.) (2) Built by Dudgeon at Millwall, Neptune was laid down in 1874 and launched in 1878 for the Brazilian Navy as the Independencia but purchased for the Royal Navy prior to completion, thanks to the panic caused by a potential war with Russia. First commissioned in 1883, her sea-going career proved a short one and she was sold for scrapping in 1903; on her final passage down the harbour at Portsmouth whilst en route to the breakers, she managed to ram Victory and collide with Hero thereby cementing her already somewhat tarnished reputation. Albemarle was one of the six 'Duncan' class pre-'Dreadnought' battleships ordered in 1898-99. Built at Chatham, launched in March 1901 and completed in 1903, Albemarle sported a main armament of 4-12in. guns and, despite her age, rendered useful service in the Great War before being scrapped in 1920.
This lot is signed and inscribed W.F. Mitchell 1879-1038 (lower left) and not as stated in the catalogue, and further inscribed "Neptune"-1038 on the reverse. 1038 is Mitchell's personal catalogue number.