CHINESE SCHOOL, CIRCA 1880The American Steam City of Peking Arriving in China Oil on canvas, stretched and framed. 12 1/8 x 18in (30.8 x 45.7cm) Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. The S.S. City of Peking was an iron-hulled steam built in 1874 by John Roach & Sons for the Pacific Mail Steampany. The City of Peking and her sister City of Tokio were at the time of construction the largest vessels ever built in the United States, and the second largest in the world behind the British leviathan Great Eastern. Construction of the two Pacific Mail s was plagued with financial difficulties, which threatened to bankrupt the builder. However, City of Peking would go on to have a long and successfulmercial career. In addition to her cargoes, City of Peking brought many Chinese and Japanese immigrants to the United States, and later served as a troop in the Spanish-American War. On 21 September 1903, the aging vessel was finally retired from transpacific service by Pacific Mail. Provenance: , New York, 5 June 2013, lot 82