Marine Painting Sister Titans Of The Mersey: RMS Lusitania And RMS Mauretania

Sister Titans of the Mersey: Lusitania and Mauretania
Original Maritime Painting by Dennis Green (1942–2024)
Subject and Medium
Sister Titans of the Mersey is a masterful maritime painting by the late British artist Dennis Green, capturing the elegance and industrial might of Britain’s golden age of transatlantic travel. Created circa 2015 in watercolour & gouache on paper (mounted on board), the work offers both historical accuracy and emotional depth.
Set on the River Mersey, the painting presents RMS Lusitania and RMS Mauretania—two of the Cunard Line's most iconic ships—sailing in parallel beneath a sky softly lit by dawn or dusk. Their four red-and-black funnels emit gentle trails of steam, while Liverpool’s skyline, anchored by the Royal Liver Building, rises in the background. There’s a quiet sense of power and coordination in the scene, as if the entire river is momentarily still in reverence.

Green pays particular attention to the tugboats navigating the waters around these liners, recognizing their essential but often overlooked role. His respect for maritime labor is evident in every detail, from the gentle wakes to the working-class vessels guiding the way.

Composition and Technique
The painting uses gouache to great effect, with cool industrial tones—deep green, slate grey, and smoke black—offset by luminous touches of violet, pale blue, and gold. The atmospheric lighting gives the work a cinematic quality, while Green’s brushwork balances technical precision in the ships’ architecture with expressive motion in the sky and water.
The overall composition reflects Green’s distinctive blend of realism and romanticism: historically grounded, yet emotionally resonant.

The Featured Ships
RMS Lusitania
Launched in 1906, the Lusitania was a marvel of early 20th-century design, known for speed, luxury, and cutting-edge turbine propulsion. Her opulent Edwardian interiors were the height of elegance. Tragically, her sinking by a German U-boat in 1915—resulting in 1,198 civilian deaths—shocked the world and influenced the course of World War I.
Green paints Lusitania in her prime: stately and poised for transatlantic voyage. It is a respectful, poignant portrait of grace before tragedy.

RMS Mauretania
Also launched in 1906, Mauretania was Lusitania’s sister ship—larger, faster, and ultimately longer-lived. She held the Blue Riband for fastest Atlantic crossing for 22 years, a record that made her a legend. Lavishly appointed, she also served as a troop and hospital ship during World War I, earning the nickname “The Grand Old Lady of the Atlantic.”
Here, Mauretania appears in perfect harmony with Lusitania, her silhouette sleek and commanding. Green portrays her as both a feat of engineering and a symbol of Britain’s maritime strength.

The Tugboats: Working-Class Champions
Green elevates three tugboats—SS Alexandra, SS Hornby, and SS Trafalgar—to more than background detail. These vessels, integral to the movement of liners through the tight, tidal Mersey, are depicted with pride and purpose.
SS Alexandra (1886): Known for her strength and reliability, Alexandra played a critical role in guiding ships through Liverpool’s challenging waters. Her robust profile symbolizes the unseen labor behind each successful voyage.
SS Hornby: Named after a prominent local family, Hornby represents everyday dependability. Green captures her in motion, exuding determination.
SS Trafalgar: Evoking Britain’s naval heritage, Trafalgar becomes a subtle nod to the Royal Navy’s enduring legacy, even in civilian maritime operations.
These tugboats are the silent enablers of maritime success, portrayed with dignity and narrative depth.
Signature and Framing
The artwork is hand-signed by Dennis Green, authenticating it as an original work. It is elegantly housed in a gold-tone wooden frame with a double cream archival mount, designed to complement both the era and atmosphere of the piece.
Framed Dimensions: 80 cm (W) × 65.5 cm (H) × 2.5 cm (D)

About the Artist
Dennis Green (1942–2024) was a respected British maritime painter whose works reflected both technical expertise and emotional storytelling. A longtime member of the Wirral Society of Arts, he was deeply committed to capturing the industrial beauty of Britain’s ports and ships.
This painting stands as one of his signature achievements—a culmination of decades spent studying, painting, and celebrating maritime history.

Provenance
From a Private Liverpool Marine Collection
Exhibited at the Wirral Society of Arts Members Exhibition, 2015
Sold via Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Featured in the Middle Shire Museum Maritime Exhibition, 2025
Condition Report
Artwork: Good. Minor foxing in sky areas. Colors remain vibrant and stable.
Frame: Good with surface wear, scuffs, and small corner chips. Structurally sound and ready to hang.
Mount: Archival quality. Clean and professionally fitted.
Glazing: Protective front glass has some light stains and scratches.
Shipping and Handling
Worldwide shipping available. Professionally packed and fully insured for safe international delivery.
Why This Painting Stands Out
Historical and emotional depth, ideal for collectors of maritime art
Features two of Britain’s most famous ocean liners in rare tandem
Honors the essential, unsung tugboats of Liverpool
Late-career masterpiece by a distinguished maritime artist
Museum-quality presentation and provenance
Strong investment potential following the artist’s passing
Available now.
Add this powerful tribute to Britain’s maritime legacy to your collection today.
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