Large Marine Painting The RMS Mauretania At Sandon Half Tide Dock, Liverpool

Marine Painting Docking the RMS Mauretania at Sandon Half Tide Dock, Liverpool – Oil on Canvas by Eddie Baker (1940–2025)
Description
Subject & Medium
A large-scale historical marine painting by Eddie Baker, this oil on canvas laid on board captures the RMS Mauretania at Liverpool’s Sandon Half Tide Dock in 1907. The liner is assisted by the tugboats Egerton and Wellington. Painted circa 2000, the work celebrates one of the most iconic ships of the Edwardian era, famed for her speed, luxury, and engineering brilliance.
The scene conveys the drama of docking—a vessel nearly 800 feet long guided into place by squat, coal-burning tugs—set against the bustle of Liverpool’s historic waterfront.
Composition & Technique
Baker’s skill lies in combining technical accuracy with atmosphere:
Colour: Striking contrasts between red-and-black funnels, a pastel sky, the dark hull, and shimmering water.
Brushwork: Smooth sweeps for the ship’s vast form, with lively detailing in smoke, rigging, and reflections.
Style: Realism with narrative depth, portraying not just a ship, but a moment of human and industrial coordination.
Composition: The liner is set slightly off-centre, balanced by the tugboats, their diagonal pull suggesting both power and precision.
The work succeeds equally as a historical record and a dramatic marine tableau.
The Ships Depicted
RMS Mauretania (1907) – Built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, she was powered by Parsons’ pioneering steam turbines. She held the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic crossing for 22 years, served as both troopship and hospital ship during WWI, and was remembered for her opulent Edwardian interiors. Retired in 1934, she remains one of the most celebrated Cunard liners.
Tugboat Egerton – A stalwart of Liverpool’s tug fleet, built for the Liverpool & Glasgow Salvage Association.
Tugboat Wellington – A short, powerful dock tug vital for manoeuvring great liners within Liverpool’s narrow docks.
About the Artist – Eddie Baker (1940–2025)
Eddie Baker trained in Watford and worked in printing before devoting himself to maritime art. Inspired by Frank Mason, he gained a reputation for historically faithful and atmospheric paintings. His works are held in museum collections including the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre and the South Wales Aviation Museum. Following his death in 2025, his wife Dianna, with Neil Davies, donated many works to public collections.
Frame & Dimensions
Presented in a finely moulded giltwood frame with linen slip.
Framed size: 99 cm (W) × 73 cm (H) × 4 cm (D).
Provenance
Inscribed verso: “Mauretania (of 1907) by Ed. Baker”.
With Liverpool address of Dennis Green, West Derby.
Exhibited at the Lord Hill Museum.
From a North West auction, curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.
Why Collect This Piece
Rare, large-scale depiction of Cunard’s RMS Mauretania.
Combines liner grandeur with tugboat realism.
Signed by a respected maritime painter.
Liverpool provenance and exhibition history.
Gallery-scale size with strong visual impact.
Artwork of investment quality with enduring appeal.
Condition
Good overall condition. Vibrant colours, stable surface, and no visible paint losses. Some foxing visible in sky area. Frame with minor age-related wear and small losses. Presented under protective glass and ready to hang.
Shipping
Worldwide delivery available. Professionally packed and fully insured.