The USS Massachusetts, second of three Indiana class battleships in the 'New Steel' Fleet, bears the grim visaged image of winged Lady Victory on her front 13inch gun turret. It was a work of art commissioned for and gifted to her by the Massachusetts State Legislature shortly after her trials in 1897. My question is: Why? And: Was this common for other Ships or Navies after the Age of Sail?
This is the first and only example of a 'modern' Naval ship of war blatantly embellished with Art that I've run across. Granted my experience is, shall we say, limited. Her sword is emblazoned with 'Victory', and the base of the 10 foot piece reads 'By duty done is honor won'. Its a very romantic image, blade brandished amid twin enormous rifled weapons and riding at the fore of a brand new type of ship of war strikes me as incredibly Imperial.
This is a really interesting question. Traditional art (figureheads, statues, etc.) that we often associate with sail powered warships largely died out when steam and iron took over the power and hulls of naval vessels. The link you provided suggests that the Massachusetts Victory statue was unique at the time, and done through the legislature of the state. To my knowledge, no other US warship adopted similar figures. Major Imperial Japanese vessels (battleships, aircraft carriers) were iconic in placing chrysanthemum seals on their bows, a practice that died out with the end of World War Two.
