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Position [of] Russian Fleet Sebastopol. Friday 22nd. September 1854 7.30. AM

Montagu Frederick O'Reilly

1854

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Early 19th Century Marine

Dominant colour

Position [of] Russian Fleet Sebastopol. Friday 22nd. September 1854 7.30. AM is a 1854 watercolor by Montagu Frederick O'Reilly, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Montagu Frederick O'Reilly
When & what style?: 1854 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This watercolor shows a long line of ships anchored in a calm, blue harbor. Smoke rises from the stacks of the nearest vessels, and a low, rocky hillside forms the background. Numbers are handwritten along the bottom, marking distances between the ships. The artist was an officer in the Royal Navy, sketching the Russian fleet during a war. The scene looks precise but loose, like a quick on-the-spot record. Look up Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolour drawing titled *Position [of] Russian Fleet Sebastopol*, executed on Friday, 22 September 1854 at 7:30 AM by Commander Montagu Frederick O'Reilly of the Royal Navy, depicts the arrangement of the Russian fleet in Sevastopol Harbour. The work was later sold by Bonhams in October 1973 for £12, as recorded by Rodney Searight.

Read the full account in the museum source.