CHINA TRADE SHIP PORTRAIT. Oil painting of the U.S. Army Transport MEADE. Painting depicts the Meade under full steam flying the American colors off the stern and the USA - T S flag from the main mast. Finely detailed with billet head, several life boats and various deck equipment. 12" X 18" plus frame. This portrait done by an anonymous Chinese port painter is finely detailed with some minor paint losses and is in as found un-cleaned condition. This vessel was originally built as the steam yacht BERLIN and at that time (1874) was one of the largest steam yachts built in Greenock Scotland. She was purchased by the US Army Quartermaster Corps and renamed the U.S.S. MEADE and was in service during the Spanish American War. In April 1899 after the close of hostillities the USS Meade carried home-ward bound troops from Matanzas Cuba befor proceeding to the South China sea and duty in the Phillippines.