Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901)

The present work was painted circa 1879-1880 when the artist was only fifteen years old. Toulouse-Lautrec spent these years in Nice with his family. The American naval ships, "The Trenton" and "The Devastation", were both docked outside of the harbor that summer and early fall. Fascinated by these vessels and their American sailor crews, the artist immediately began recording them in his sketchbooks.