File:HMS 'Inflexible' RMG BHC3416.jpg

A ship’s portrait showing the ironclad battleship ‘HMS Inflexible’ off the coast of Malta with the Grand Harbour of Valetta in the distance. There are several traditional Maltese boats nearby. One on the far left is under sail and the one in the foreground on the right has six figures on board and is being rowed. The buildings of Valetta are clearly visible.

The highly prolific Maltese artist produced hundreds of similar paintings of the harbour, ship’s portraits and shipping off Malta.

Built at Portsmouth Dockyard and launched in 1876, the ‘Inflexible’ was commissioned at Portsmouth on 5 July 1881 and was the first Royal Navy ship completely lit by electricity and with underwater torpedo tubes. She carried her main armament in centrally placed turrets and was constructed by the Royal Navy to oppose the perceived growing threat from the Italian turret ships then being built in the Mediterranean. In particular the threat came from the battleships, ‘Duilo’ and ‘Dandolo,’ which had superior armament to any ship in the British Mediterranean Squadron. Designed to counter them, the ‘Inflexible’ was a complete departure from previous designs, in armour layout and thickness, gun power and the disposition of armament, and the introduction of electricity. On completion in October 1881 she joined the Mediterranean Fleet and in July 1882 took part in the bombardment of Alexandria, where she sustained the most damage of all the British ships present. She returned to Portsmouth in 1885 and, after a refit, when pole masts were fitted to replace the original full sailing rig. She was commissioned for the fleet review of 1887 and for fleet manoeuvres in 1888 and 1889. Recommissioned for the Mediterranean Fleet, in July 1890 she went to the Gibraltar Straits, where she remained until November 1893, and returned to Portsmouth to become the Port Guard ship for four years. She was reduced to fleet reserve in 1897 and to Dockyard reserve in November 1901, until sold at Chatham in 1903 for scrap.