Naval Study of Pre-WWI Japanese Navy Ships - A Collection of 36 Small Drawings by a British Officer

$500, shipping included.

Harold Annesley-Thompson (1892-1936) was a British naval officer and artist, whose life and artwork were intertwined with the sea. He used his artistic talents actively to capture a variety of naval scenes. Particularly well known is his collection of naval studies, including several eyewitness depictions of the Dardanelles campaign in 1915.

His artwork often featured watercolor and bodycolor, pen and ink, and wash heightened with white, showcasing his ability to capture the essence of naval life and the drama of maritime warfare. His works are not only artistic expressions but also historical documents, and many are annotated, revealing his attention to detail and dedication to authenticity. His art has been recognized and collected over the years, with pieces like “HMS Temeraire entering Plymouth Harbour, 1915” as well as the Dardanelles collection, being sold at auction for respectable prices. There is little available information as to his military record other than that he was initially commissioned as an officer in 1909 and was eventually promoted to the position of Paymaster Commander. He was not an official military artist, so the breadth and quality of his art as an amateur is especially impressive.

This collection is comprised of small drawings of Japanese naval pre-WWI ships and includes several ships, which saw action during the Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905. For the two ships that were sunk during that war, Annesley-Thompson would have clearly been too young to have drawn them from life. But whether drawn from life or from photos of the time, they are all quite well done, with an eye to detail and with each meticulously captioned. I have not been able to determine if he was ever stationed in Japan to have seen any of the ships live (It is important to remember that Japan and Britain were allies during WWI and for a few years after.) None are signed, but the source of the collection was the artist’s estate.

The collection subjects, per the artist’s captions, are:

1. Japanese Protected Cruiser “Kasagi” -6”x7.5”
2. Japanese Torpedo Boat Destroyer “Asagiri” -5.5”x8”
3. Japanese Battleship “Fuji” -5”’x8”
4. The Japanese Battleship “Hatsuse” Sunk at Kess Bay – 5”x7”
5. Japanese Protected Cruiser “Takasago” -4.5”x7”
6. Jaopanes Protected Cruiser “Yoshino” Rammed and sunk by the “Kasuga” -5”x7”
7. Japanese Protected Cruiser “Asama” - 4”x7”
8. The Japanese Protected Cruiser “Adzumo” Attached to Admiral Togo” Squadron at Port Arthur -4”x7”
9. Japanese Armoured Cruiser “Kasuga” -4”x6”
10. Japanese Armoured Cruiser “Nissin” - 4”x6”
11. Japanese Armoured Cruiser “Iwate” – 3”x8”
12. “Shikishima” – 3.5”x7”
13. Japanese Torpedo Boat Destroyer “Ikadsuchi” - 3”x8”
14. Japanese Battleship “Shikishima” – 3.5”x6”
15. “Hatsuse” – 3.5”x3.5”
16. “Asahi” – 3.5”x4”
17. “Fuji” – 3”x4”
18. Japanese Battleship “Mikasa” – 3”x6”
19. Japanese Torpedo Boat Destroyer “Asashio” – 3”x6.5”
20. Japanese Torpedo Boat Destroyer “kasumi” Which Captured the “Rechitelni” – 3”x6.5”
21. Japanese Torpedo Boat Destroyer “Shibakumo” – 3”x6”
22. Japanese Armoured Cruiser “Tokiwa” - 3”x6.5”
23. Japanese Armoured Cruiser “Yakumo” – 3”x6”
24. Japanese Armoured Cruiser “Kasuga” Which Rammed the “Yoshino”
25. Japanese Protected Cruiser “ Kasagi” 2nd Division at Shantung – 2.5”x5”
26. Japanese Armoured Cruiser “Nisshin” 12th Division at Shantung -2.5”x5”
27. Armoured Cruiser “ Asama” – 2.5”x5”
28. Armoured Cruiser “Iwate” – 2.5”x5”
29. Battleship “Yashimi” – 2.5”x5”
30. Battleship “Asahi” – 2.5”x5”
31. Battleship “Fuji” 1st Division at Shantung – 2.5”x5.5”
32. Battleship “Shikishima” 1st Division at Shantung – 2.5”x5”
33. Battleship “Asahi” 1st Division at Shantung – 2.5”x5”
34. Battleship “Hatsuse” (sunk) – 2.5”x5”
35. Japanese Protected Cruiser “Matsushima” 3rd Division – 2.5”x5”
36. Japanese Armoured Cruiser “Asama” – 3”x6”

Each drawing is mounted on acid-free white paper, which in turn is mounted on matte boards of various dimensions, so that all are ready for framing. All are drawn in pencil, with a light sky and sea background wash. All are in fine condition, with no marks or damage at all.  A truly unique collection.

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