The Sussex, 1916

This is a very rare find.  The original pen and ink study for the well known etching, The Sussex by British artist James McBey.  This was one of his best known WWI works.  The subject is the Sinking of the Sussex a British Mail Boat that was torpedoed by a German Submarine in the English Channel.  The Bow was blown off and the wreck beached on the sands near Boulogne.  This pen and ink is hand signed and located as Boulogne and dated 1916.  McBey was on site and did many studies of this scene of destruction.  This is one of the most finished studies done before he created the well known etching.  The image measures 8 1/4X15 1/2 inches.  Drawn on a watermarked laid type sheet.  The drawing needs restoration, foxing marks throughout the sheet.