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Lithograph Aft. Lance Calkin 'I Must Be Last' 1898

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Lithograph Aft. Lance Calkin I Must Be Last 1898 Lithograph Chromolithograph Lance Calkin %%alt5%% %%alt6%%
We are offering for sale this interesting, Victorian historical chromolithograph after the drawing by Lance Calkin, whose signature appears to the lower left, which was published by The Graphic and appeared in the second supplement of their Christmas Edition in 1898. The chromolithograph depicts the events of the early morning of 22nd December 1875, when the training ship Goliath, which was moored in the Thames off Grays in Essex, was the subject of a fire that burnt it to the waterline.

The chromolithograph bears the following inscription below the print. 'At the burning of the training ship 'Goliath' in 1875, the Captain was entreated by one of the boys to save himself, but he would not go until everyone had left the ship.' "No, my boy, I must be last that's the way at sea" (As shown in the last picture)

The Captain was William Sutherland Bourchier RN, who was born in 1923. He became a Sub-Lieutenant in 1846, a Lieutenant in 1851 and Staff Commander in 1866, retiring to take up the position of Captain Superintendent of The Goliath in 1970. The Goliath was a three deck wooden hulled ship of the line, which was loaned by the Admiralty to the Forest Gate School District to be set up as a training ship to take pauper boys from the workhouse schools, where they would be educated, as well as learning maritime skills, in the hope that they would be fitted for a career in the navy or mercantile service. Due in no small part to Captain Bourchier, the Goliath and its successor the Exmouth would be the most successful of all the training ships.

On the morning in question, one of the boys employed in the lamp room, dropped a paraffin lamp and the fire very rapidly spread throughout the ship. Luckily the boys were all taught to swim which saved a huge loss of life as the majority of them were able to jump out of gun ports into the water. The spread of the fire was so rapid that it burnt the ropes and falls of the ship's boats so they couldn't be launched properly, although some fell into the water. Luckily other ships saw the fire and came to the aid of the stricken vessel and the 500 boys and crew. The incident depicted actually happened when a boy apparently named Mudkin implored the Captain to jump and then the other boys around would follow him, when he told them no and that he must be the last to leave the ship, which was the case. The Captain's wife, two of his three daughters and their two female servants were also on board but they all managed to escape. In all, one assistant schoolmaster named Wheeler, who couldn't swim, and 19 boys died, although some reports give the figure of 23 lost lives.

Captain Bourchier received a letter from Queen Victoria after the incident praising him for the conduct of all on board. He also received the First Class Testimonial from the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire and the Bramley Moore Silver Medal of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society.

Captain Bourchier went on to command the Exmouth, which became the successor to the Goliath until 1902, when he retired. He died in 1904 in Purley, Surrey, but under the terms of his will he was buried at Grays, next to his second wife. The funeral was a huge event with his coffin placed on a gun carriage with his hat and sword on top. The majority of shops were closed in Grays and blinds were drawn. 1,200 boys from the Exmouth, Shaftesbury, Arethusa and Worcester were present as well as a band from the training ships. From what we have read, Captain Bourchier was very highly thought of by the boys for his fairness, discipline and kindness.

(George) Lance Calkin was born on 22nd June 1859, the second of seven children on George Calkin a Professor of Music and composer and his wife Emily. He was privately educated and studied at the Slade School and the Royal Academy Schools. He married Alice Annie O'Brien in 1891 and had 3 daughters. He died at 49 Cresilton Road, Fulham on the 10th of October 1936.

He was primarily a portrait painter and his most important works are portrait of Edward VII, George V, the Marquis of Camden and Josephe Chamberlain. He was elected a Full Member of the Royal Oil Painters Institute in 1895. There are 34 of his paintings in the National Collection which can be viewed at ArtUK.org under the artist's name.

We have read on line that Lance Calkin gave the Captain the face of his own father George, but believe this to be incorrect, as we have seen a photograph of Captain Bourchier on the deck of the Exmouth and also read that he sat for the drawing by Lance Calkin.

The chromolithograph was been newly mounted in gilt acid free mountboard and is newly framed in a 1 1/8" mottled gilt frame. It will be supplied wired and ready to hang. We will also supply with the print a 14 page history of the incident of the sinking of the Goliath and a picture of the Captain.

Image size: 22" x 16" - 55.9cm x 40.65cm

Frame size: 28" x 21 1/2" - 71.1cm x 54.6cm

Condition: Very good. Slight browning of the paper consistent with its 120 years. The frame and mount are new.
Price
£0  UK
$0.00  USA
0.00  EU
 The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 27/MAR/2024. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
 Sold. Sold prices are confidential so please don't ask.
 
Date 1898  Late Victorian Antiques Material Paper Origin English Item code as237a1550 Status Sold

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Kent
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Lithograph Aft. Lance Calkin 'I Must Be Last' 1898
 
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