Miscellaneous

Lot 1143    Session 4 (4.30pm Tuesday)    Miscellaneous

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,000

PAINTING OF THE M.V.CITY of Rayville, water colour and gouache, 72cm x 43cm, by Philip J Gray. Framed and glazed.

M.V.City of Rayville, 5883 tons, built in Tampa, Florida in 1920, converted to diesel in 1927. Owned by American Pioneer Line. This ship had the dubious honour of being the first American merchant marine vessel to be sunk in World War II as a result of hostile enemy action. The incident occurred in the early morning hours on 9th November 1940 off Victoria's southern coast. The German raider 'Pinguin' had earlier set mines in the busy shipping lane between Apollo Bay and Cape Otway, and the 'City of Rayville' struck one and sank with the loss of one life. Fishermen from Apollo Bay heard the explosion and rescued the survivors later that morning. The painting shows the ship emptied of cargo and being berthed at a dock by tugs in Port Pirie, South Australia ready to be loaded with a cargo of lead ingots bound for Melbourne. The ship's strongroom contained a large quantity of cash to pay the company's crew members. The wreck has never been explored. The artist has exhibited widely in the maritime art tradition of 'ship portraiture', and also calssical maritime art themes. Works have been sold globally and some as limited edition prints; early works are held in the Latrobe Library. The production of the 'City of Rayville' has been thoroughly researched in Australia and the U.S.A. with the help of Captain George Duffy, a surviving crew member of the American pioneer Line.