signed 'Richard M Firth' (lower right)
oil on canvas
71.1 x 106.7cm (28 x 42in).

This fine work by Richard Firth portrays the legendary Britannia doing battle with her celebrated American cousin Vigilant at Cowes in August 1894. Britannia, anxious to repeat her highly successful maiden season the year before, found herself matched against a worthy opponent in Vigilant, the latter fresh from her triumphant retention of the America's Cup the previous October. The two giants first met during the so-called "Clyde Fortnight" in July 1894 and sailed against each other seventeen times in all that summer. From the Clyde, the two yachts made their way to Cowes via several other regattas and it is probable that the scene depicted here shows them battling it out during their memorable private match, for a 100-guinea cup, on 4th August, which Vigilant won.