This Fine Painting Has Been Sold. Thank you!   BRITISH WARSHIP HMS "VICTORIA" Anchored Hong Kong Harbour Ca 1860   Oil on canvas                                             19th Century Unframed 23" x 17 1/2”                             Framed  28 1/2" x 22 3/4" Unsigned      Presented is one of the finest China Trade paintings we have ever had the pleasure to offer. The draftsmanship of the unknown artist is exceptional and shows an intimate knowledge of his subject matter. Careful research has identified the ship as the HMS Victoria which was the first warship built by Britain for her Australian colony to be deployed overseas. The HMS Victoria, also referred to as HMVS (Her Majesty's Victorian Ship) or HMCSS (Her Majesty's Colonial Steam Sloop). She was a 580-ton combined steam/sail sloop-of-war built in England in 1855 for the colony of Victoria. She was the second warship to be ordered for an Australian colonial navy, the first British-built ship to be given to a colony of the British Empire, and the first Australian warship to be deployed overseas. Construction and acquisition. Victoria was the second ship ordered for an Australian colonial navy, after the Australian-built gunboat Spitfire for the New South Wales colony. She was designed by the British naval architect Oliver Lang and launched in London on 30 June 1855 by Lady Constance Talbot. Commander William Henry Norman sailed the Victoria from Plymouth to Hobson's Bay, arriving on 31 May 1856. The ship was equipped with eight 32-pounder guns. Shown at the left is a photograph of the Victoria at her commissioning in London on June 30, 1855. Her main duties were to protect the colony of Victoria, conduct hydrological surveys, recover passengers and crew from stricken ships, and serve as a lighthouse tender. During her career the sloop delivered the first trout eggs to the colony of Tasmania. In 1860, the colonial government of Victoria decided to send the sloop to New Zealand, to support British colonists fighting in the First Taranaki War where she performed duties as a troop ship and transport.     Detail of midships and smoke stack Bow with Jack flying at the staff   In the scene painted Victoria is anchored in Hong Kong Harbour which also is named after Queen Victoria. Her majestic hull sits in quiet dignity on the brilliant, misty, blue water of the bay. There no other sailing vessels anchored around her, but in the background off her port bow are the buildings that are also seen in the painting of Victoria Harbour which is shown below that of the ship.     CONDITION: The painting is is in excellent condition with some scuffing along the bottom where the stretcher meets the frame. There is extensive craquelure that does not show in the photographs. The frame is English and is also in good condition.   PROVENANCE: The painting was discovered in France and brought to the United States in 2010 where it was cleaned. It had been previously relined. OUR UNCONDITIONAL NO NONSENSE GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage, within three days of receipt in its original packaging. Return items must be insured for their full value. Only a prior email authorization by us for the return is required. Shipping charges are included in this offer within the continetal United States if the error is due to our fault. FLAT RATE SHIPPING within the 48 contiguous States $50.00.  International buyers welcome, but inquire first. We have satisfied customers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Estonia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Nova Scotia, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, St. Maarten, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean. ACCEPTED FORMS OF PAYMENT are Bank wire transfer, cashier's check, money order, or personal check in which case the item will be held until cleared. No credit cards or PayPal accepted on this item. Copyright 2012 by Land And Sea Collection™, All Rights Reserved A classic ship portrait of a British Warship anchored in a known port.