Deck of Great Eastern, Aft the Paying-out Machinery.

by Robert Charles Dudley

Title

Deck of Great Eastern, Aft the Paying-out Machinery.

Artist

Robert Charles Dudley

Medium

Painting - Watercolor

Description

Deck of Great Eastern, Aft: the Paying-out Machinery. Artist: Robert Charles Dudley (British, 1826-1909). Dimensions: Sheet: 9 13/16 x 14 3/16 in. (25 x 36 cm). Date: 1866.
One of the 19th century's great technological achievements was to lay a telegraphic cable beneath the Atlantic, allowing messages to speed back and forth between North America and Europe in minutes, rather than ten or twelve days by steamer. An initially successful attempt in 1858, led by Cyrus W. Field and financed by the Atlantic Telegraph Company, failed after three weeks. Two working cables were finally laid in July and September 1866, the result of repeated efforts by the indefatigable Field, a cadre of engineers, technicians, and sailors, two groups of financial backers, and significant help from the British and United States navies. Dudley documented the process in a series of watercolors and oils, this example showing the paying out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern in 1866. In 1892 Field donated art works by Dudley, commemorative medals, memorabilia, and specimens of cable to the Museum. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

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June 21st, 2019

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