Antonio De Simone

(Italian, 1851 - 1907)

The auxiliary steam yacht Valhalla 

signed and dated 'De Simone 1907', and inscribed 'AUX.S.Y.VALHALLA' (lower left)

gouache

41 x 65cm 

For sale : £ 4,650

The magnificent Valhalla, 1,218 tons gross, was the only British steam yacht to carry a full ship rig and is believed by many to have been the finest example of a steam auxiliary ever built. Designed by W.C. Storey and built by Ramage & Ferguson at Leith for Captain J.F. Laycock in 1892, she is best known for her achievement of third place in the Kaiser's famous Trans-Atlantic Race of 1905 despite the competition afforded by the much faster schooners taking part. She had several owners, most notably the Earl of Crawford & Balcarres (from 1902-08), and she also did War service with the Royal Navy including a period at Limnos - in the Aegean - during the Gallipoli campaign. After the War she became a Spanish-owned fruit carrier but she was wrecked and sunk off Cape St. Vincent in 1922

About the artist:

Amongst the 19th and 20th century ship portraitists who practiced in Italian seaport cities, the father and son, Tommaso and Antonio de Simone are probably the best known. The son, Antonio de Simone worked in watercolor and watercolor variants, chiefly but not limited to gouache, while Tommaso, the father, is noted for working exclusively in oils.

Antonio specialized in portraits of the great society yachts of the period, successfully capturing just about every important private yacht to visit Naples. These fine portraits were commissioned by the owners to show their vessels at anchor under Mount Vesuvius during their Mediterranean cruises. A noted aspect of his paintings is his use of a brilliant cerulean blue to portray sea and sky.

For Sale: please enquire