Coaling a Transport at Night

Aylward, William James · ca. 1919

Oil painting on paper board. The work depicts a large transport ship, possibly the U.S.S. Leviathan, in harbor at Brest at night with lights coming off the side of the boat illuminating a number of smaller boats that have rowed up next to it. The smaller boats are loading coal into the transport ship. The transport ship has three smokestacks that are emitting smoke. Vague structures can be seen in the background, possibly cranes and other ships. The sky and water are dark blue with orange light reflecting on the water. Signed at bottom right by the artist, "W.J. Aylward." The painting is damaged slightly at the bottom center where it appears a label has been removed.