1574a Thomas Willis Painting, Naval Engagement

Naval engagement by Brooklyn New York port artist, Thomas Willis. Mixed media painting, oil on canvas with embroidered ships (embroidery and velvet on a canvas painted ocean) depicting the attack of a passenger vessel flying an American flag, by a German U-Boat, (seen to left), during World War I. Passengers are seen set adrift in three life boats . A 3-stack naval dstroyer flying an American flag is seen to the right, firing at the U-boat. Signed with Willis logo, TW, lr. 13 1/2 in x 23 1/2 in, sight. Framed, 18 1/2 in x 28 1/2 in. Thomas Willis, American, born 1850 in Connecticut. Worked for silk embroidery thread maker in Brooklyn, NY. His marine paintings had sails in silk or satin, hulls in velvet, and painted backgrounds. Active ca. 1880-1917. Represented at Mariners Museum, Mystic Seaport, Peabody Museum