Antonio de Simone (Italian, fl.1860-1900)

H.M.S. Cruizer was one of the nine 'Doterel' class of composite screw sloops designed by Nathaniel Barnaby in 1877. Originally named Kingfisher, she was built at Sheerness, launched on 16th December 1879 and completed for sea the following year. Constructed from teak on iron frames and rigged as a barque, she was also steam-powered and her engine gave her a cruising speed of 11-12 knots. After a short service career of only 12 years, she became a training ship for cadets in November 1892 and was renamed Lark. Six months later she was rechristened Cruizer, the name she retained in her role as a training ship, until sold out of the service in 1919.

Since the works offered here are dated 1919, it seems probable that they were commissioned to mark her retirement from the Royal Navy.