Large British Oil Painting Tugboats Egerton and Wellington Docking the RMS Mauretania Ship at Liverpool Dock

Details

Description

Impressive Tugboats Egerton and Wellington Docking the RMS Mauretania
Oil on Canvas board Nautical Painting by Eddie Baker (1940–2025)

Subject … Read more Impressive Tugboats Egerton and Wellington Docking the RMS Mauretania
Oil on Canvas board Nautical Painting by Eddie Baker (1940–2025)

Subject & Medium
This large-scale historical marine oil painting portrays the legendary RMS Mauretania (1907) at Liverpool’s Sandon Half Tide Dock, assisted by the tugboats Egerton and Wellington. Titled Tugboats Egerton and Wellington Docking the RMS Mauretania, the work captures one of the defining scenes of Edwardian maritime history.
Celebrated as both a technological marvel and a symbol of luxury, the Mauretania was among the most famous ships to fly the Cunard flag. Baker’s painting depicts the drama of docking—an 800-foot liner being carefully maneuvered into position by two squat but powerful tugboats, set against the industrial backdrop of Liverpool’s bustling waterfront.

Composition & Technique
Eddie Baker’s technical skill and storytelling come together in this atmospheric composition.
Colour: Red-and-black funnels glow against a soft pastel sky; the dark hull looms against green-blue waters.
Brushwork: Smooth, sweeping strokes articulate the liner’s immense hull; brisk, textured marks describe rigging, smoke, and reflections.
Style: A realist foundation with narrative sensibility, placing the viewer within the tense choreography of liner and tug.
Balance: The off-centre placement of the Mauretania and the purposeful tugboats creates dynamic diagonal tension, suggesting both mass and control.
The work succeeds equally as a historical record and a dramatic marine tableau.

The Ships Depicted
RMS Mauretania (1907) – Cunard Line
Builder: Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Engines: Charles Parsons’ pioneering steam turbines, enabling record-breaking speeds.
Fame: Held the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic crossing for 22 years—an unmatched record.
Wartime Service: Served as troopship and hospital ship during WWI, known then as “HMS Mauretania.”
Legacy: Celebrated for her Edwardian interiors and speed; retired in 1934, she remains one of the most iconic liners in history.
Tugboat Egerton – Liverpool & Glasgow Salvage Association
Shown at the bow, the Egerton represents the hard-working Mersey tug fleet. Coal-burning, compact, and immensely strong, she symbolizes the reliability of Liverpool’s unsung maritime workhorses.
Tugboat Wellington – Liverpool Dock Service
Depicted at the stern, the Wellington was another short-hulled but powerful tug, essential for guiding liners into the narrow docks with precision.

About the Artist – Eddie Baker (1940–2025)
Eddie Baker trained in Watford and began in the printing trade before becoming a maritime artist. Inspired by Frank Mason, he became widely known for his blend of historical accuracy and atmosphere.
His works are represented in several museum collections, including the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre, South Wales Aviation Museum, and Robertsbridge Aviation Society. Following his passing in 2025, his wife Dianna and Neil Davies donated many works to public collections.
Frame

Presented in a finely moulded giltwood frame with linen slip, enhancing the historic subject.
Framed Dimensions: 99 cm (W) × 73 cm (H) × 4 cm (D).

Provenance
Inscribed verso: “Mauretania (of 1907) by Ed. Baker.”
With Liverpool address of Dennis Green, 199 Deysbrook Lane, West Derby.
Likely commissioned acquired in Liverpool.
Notable North West Auction
Exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum.
Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

Why Collect This Work
Rare large-scale depiction of Cunard’s RMS Mauretania with Egerton and Wellington.
Captures the golden age of steamship travel with cinematic detail.
Juxtaposes grandeur of the liner with grit of the tugboats.
Signed by Eddie Baker, noted for accuracy and atmosphere.
Strong Liverpool provenance and exhibition history.
Gallery-scale dimensions, nearly 1 meter wide. See less