View Looking Aft from the Port Paddle-box on the Deck of the Great Eastern: Showing the Trough for the Cable, etc. 1865 - 1866

Robert Charles Dudley's "View Looking Aft from the Port Paddle-box on the Deck of the Great Eastern: Showing the Trough for the Cable, etc.," is a detailed watercolor depicting the deck of the Great Eastern steamship. Completed between 1865 and 1866, the work showcases the intricate details of the ship's structure, including the paddle-box, the cable trough, and the crew members working on deck. The artist captures the ship's grandeur and the vastness of the sea, offering a glimpse into maritime life during the mid-19th century. This artwork is a fascinating record of a significant engineering feat of the era, the Great Eastern, a pioneering ship renowned for its size and innovation. The watercolor, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, offers a detailed and insightful perspective on the ship's construction and operation.