WALTER THOMAS (1894-1971) QUEEN ELIZABETH / CUNARD WHITE STAR. Gouache and pencil maquette. Circa 1946. 18 3/4x11 3/4 inches, 47 1/2x29 3/4 cm. Condition B+: stain in upper right corner; creasing along bottom edge. Painted on artist board. Matted and framed. Although she was launched in September 1938, the Queen Elizabeth first went into service as a troopship during World War II. Her maiden voyage as an ocean liner wasn't until 1946. When she entered the transatlantic service she was the longest and heaviest ship to have ever sailed. The central vessel and general layout of this sketch were eventually used by Thomas in 1947 on a well-known poster promoting the Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mary. Here, instead of depicting the Queen Mary in the background, Thomas depicts the Calshot Spit Lightship (Trinity Lighthouse Vessel LV 78), located off Southampton. In 1948, Cunard bought out White Star and shortened the name of the company. Toursim p. 35 (var).
