Eduardo De Martino (Italian, 1838-1912)


H.M.S. Ophir coaling in Halifax, 5th October 1901, prior to her return home inscribed and dated 'The last coals of the season/H.M.S. "Ophir"/Halifax 5th Oct 1901' (lower right) and inscribed with the escorting war ships 'Diadem/Tribune/Crescent/Niobe' (on canvas overlap)oil on canvas54 x 92.7cm (21 1/4 x 36 1/2in).Together with two books: With the "Ophir" Round the Empire by William Maxwell (Cassell and Company, Ltd, 1902); and The Royal Tour 1901 or The Cruise of H.M.S. Ophir by Harry Price (Webb & Bower, Exeter, 1980). (3)
|Ophir was a handsome twin-screw steamer built for the Orient Line's prestigious Australian service in 1891 and her luxurious accommodation, coupled with her general suitability for voyaging in tropical waters, made her a logical choice for the Royal Tour of 1901. The tour was to be undertaken by the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George V and Queen Mary) and, in the absence of a sufficiently large royal yacht, the Admiralty decided to charter a liner for royal duties. Ophir, 6,800 tons and 465 feet long, needed little alteration and the necessary work was carried out at Tilbury. Splendidly repainted in her new white livery, she left Portsmouth on 16th March 1901 for the first-ever Royal Tour in the modern sense. Every continent in the Empire was visited except India and by the end of the seven month voyage, she had steamed 45,000 miles.The Ophir arrived in Quebec on the 15th September. Following official visits to Montreal, Ottawa and then Vancouver – all by overland rail - the royal couple then rejoined the Ophir at Halifax on 19th October and, after making a final visit to Newfoundland, headed for home where they finally arrived back at Portsmouth on the 1st November.