Euphrates Class Troop Ship

Painted by a Chinese artist for export to the west, a portrait of a Euphrates Class Troop Ship, possibly HMS Jumna, in Chinese waters.
On linen, lined, within a profusely carved Chinese hardwood frame contemporary with the painting.

o.s:29.25 in x 23.75 in

There were five iron-hulled Euphrates class troop ships built for the Royal Navy during the 1860’s, principally for carrying troops to India.
360 feet in length, they had a single screw giving a speed of 14 knots, were barque rigged and carried three 4 pounder guns. They all had white hulls which obviously raises a question over the attribution attached to this painting.

It has been suggested that as the Euphrates class vessels plied their routes in Indian seas, the Chinese setting may be fictitious and the Chinese artist simply worked from a black and white photograph and was misinformed with regards to the livery. Clearly the draughtsmanship is accurate in all other respects.