On 12 May 1854, HMS Tiger, a Royal Navy paddle frigate under Captain Henry Giffard, ran aground in thick fog off Odessa during the opening weeks of the Crimean War. Unable to refloat her before the fog cleared, the crew came under fire from Russian shore artillery; within minutes the ship was burning in two places, the captain lay mortally wounded, and the surviving crew were taken prisoner. It was the largest British warship lost in the entire war, and the story of her destruction spread through the British press within weeks — which is exactly what this lithograph is: a piece of that immediate news coverage, captioned directly on the plate "H.M. Steam-Ship 'Tiger'" and dated June 3, 1854, just three weeks after the actual event.
The print itself is hand-tinted, with pale yellow sails picked out against a muted blue sea and sky under full rigging. Look closely at the hull and the illustrator's real subject becomes clear: the paddle wheel housing rendered in careful cross-hatched detail, churning visible white water at the stern, and the deck crowded with figures — sailors and officers rendered at a small scale but still individually distinct, giving the ship real human presence rather than reading as an empty vessel. It's mounted in a blue-toned mat with gilt fillet lines, set inside a mid-20th-century frame with a warm burl wood finish — meaning the print is a genuine 19th-century antique, while its current frame is a later, vintage addition rather than original to the piece.
The lithograph shows the even, slightly toned paper expected of a 170-year-old print, and the frame and glazing present cleanly with no damage. At 42 cm wide and 32 cm tall, it suits a study, library, or any wall where a specific, documented piece of naval history can anchor the room.
It arrives professionally packed and fully insured — we handle the paperwork and worldwide shipping. Returns are accepted within 30 days.
Details
Medium: hand-tinted lithograph, mid-20th-century wood frame
Dimensions: framed 42 × 32 cm (16.5 × 12.6 in)
Subject: H.M. Steam-Ship "Tiger," captioned and dated June 3, 1854 on the plate
Historical event depicted: grounding and destruction of HMS Tiger near Odessa, Crimean War, May 1854
Condition: good antique condition, toning consistent with age; frame and glazing present cleanly
