{"product_id":"richard-wood-rms-mauretania-new-york-harbour-1934","title":"Richard Wood - RMS Mauretania, New York Harbour 1934","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRichard Wood (British b.1950) - RMS Mauretania, New York Harbour, 1934\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA substantial maritime oil on canvas by British artist Richard Wood (b.1950), depicting the celebrated Cunard liner RMS Mauretania in New York Harbour during the final year of her active career. Signed at the lower right and titled and inscribed to the reverse \u003cem\u003eMauretania, 1934\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWood places the enormous white-hulled Mauretania at the centre of a busy harbour scene, surrounded by tugs and smaller working craft amid the choppy green-blue waters of New York. The Statue of Liberty rises in the distance to the left, while the Manhattan skyline forms a hazy backdrop beyond the ships. To the right appears another of the great four-funnel liners of the period, RMS Olympic, sister ship of the Titanic, shown in her characteristic White Star Line livery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMauretania is depicted in the distinctive all-white appearance of her later cruising years, rather than the black hull associated with the great transatlantic period of her career. Wood carefully records the ship's four red-and-black Cunard funnels, sweeping superstructure and imposing scale, contrasting the brilliant white vessel against the turquoise water and expansive blue sky. Smoke drifting from the funnels and the numerous harbour tugs give the scene a particularly lively sense of movement and activity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe choice of 1934 is historically significant. Mauretania had entered service for Cunard in 1907 and became one of the most famous ocean liners of the early 20th century, holding the Blue Riband for the fastest North Atlantic crossing for more than two decades. By the early 1930s she had increasingly been employed on pleasure cruises, and her hull was repainted white during this final phase of her career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1934 also marked the merger of the previously rival Cunard Line and White Star Line. Wood's inclusion of Olympic in the background therefore brings together two vessels that had once symbolised competing approaches to transatlantic travel. Mauretania represented Cunard's emphasis on speed and engineering power, while Olympic and her White Star sisters were conceived principally around unprecedented size, luxury and comfort.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scene consequently captures the closing chapter of the great four-funnel liner era. Mauretania departed New York for the final time in September 1934 and was withdrawn from service shortly afterwards, while Olympic followed her into retirement the following year. Seen together against the New York skyline, the two ships form a particularly evocative image of the final years of the great Edwardian Atlantic liners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe painting also has an unusually interesting exhibition history. According to previous auction records, it was exhibited at the opening exhibition of Titanic Belfast in March 2012. Richard Wood developed a particular interest in historic ocean liners, and other maritime works by the artist depicting vessels associated with the Titanic and Olympic class have subsequently been displayed in connection with Titanic Belfast and Titanic Hotel Belfast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA closely related companion painting by Wood, depicting \u003cem\u003eRMS Mauretania Leaving New York\u003c\/em\u003e, is known with the same dimensions and the same Titanic Belfast opening-exhibition provenance, indicating that the present work formed part of a wider group of historical liner paintings produced by the artist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRichard Wood was born in London in 1950 and established himself as a professional painter during the 1970s. Working predominantly in a traditional representational manner, he has painted landscapes, architectural subjects and marine scenes in both oil and watercolour. Historic shipping has remained a recurring strand within his work, particularly the great liners and sailing vessels of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePresented in a substantial gilt and cream-toned frame, the painting has considerable decorative presence. At over a metre across when framed, the combination of Mauretania, Olympic, the Statue of Liberty and the bustling New York waterfront makes this an especially appealing work for collectors of maritime art, ocean-liner history and Titanic-related material.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Richard Wood (British, b.1950)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTitle:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eRMS Mauretania, New York Harbour, 1934\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Painted by March 2012; depicting 1934\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMedium:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oil on canvas\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSigned:\u003c\/strong\u003e Signed lower right; titled and inscribed verso\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUnframed size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 60cm x 92cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFramed size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 75cm x 107cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExhibition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Exhibited at the opening exhibition of Titanic Belfast, March 2012, according to previous auction records\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubject:\u003c\/strong\u003e RMS \u003cem\u003eMauretania\u003c\/em\u003e with RMS \u003cem\u003eOlympic\u003c\/em\u003e, Statue of Liberty and New York Harbour\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Good condition overall, with minor age-related wear consistent with display. The frame shows some light surface wear. Please refer to the photographs for further detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA particularly evocative modern maritime painting combining two of the most celebrated liners of the early 20th century at a historically significant moment in their careers, enhanced by documented exhibition provenance relating directly to Titanic Belfast.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"63Arts Edinburgh","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54725261230421,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1038\/7170\/9525\/files\/WoodPlate.jpg?v=1787435248","url":"https:\/\/63arts.co.uk\/products\/richard-wood-rms-mauretania-new-york-harbour-1934","provider":"63Arts Edinburgh","version":"1.0","type":"link"}