Signed l.r.: Charles Cundall

Oil on canvas, 24 by 20 ins (61 by 51 cm)

Exhibited: London, Royal Academy, 1947, no.346

This dramatic seascape is one of a series of paintings that Cundall executed as official artist on the Royal trip to South Africa in 1947. This highly symbolic event was the first Royal trip to the Southern hemisphere since 1927 which significantly included not only George VI and Queen Elizabeth but also the future Queen then Princess Elizabeth who celebrated her twenty first birthday whilst in Africa. The family themselves travelled on HMS Vanguard, with the cruisers Cleopatra and Diadem and the destroyers St James and St Kitts (the present ship) acting as escorts. Cundall, who had excelled as official War Artist for the Royal Navy during World War Two was the obvious choice as artist for the event. Two other works from the trip (as well as the present painting) were exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1947: The Departure of the Royal Family to South Africa, 1st February, 1947 (no.340) and HMS Vanguard in the Bay (no.371). HMS St Kitts was a Battle-class destroyer which had first been launched in 1944.