Description

Title: Masterpiece Painting Docking the RMS Mauretania Ship at Sandon Half Tide Dock

Description:

Docking the RMS Mauretania Ship at Sandon Half Tide Dock, Liverpool By Eddie Baker (1940–2025)

Subject & Medium
This large-scale historical marine masterpiece oil on canvas laid on board painting portrays the legendary RMS Mauretania scene set in 1907 at Liverpool’s Sandon Half Tide Dock, assisted by the tugboats Egerton and Wellington. Circa 2000. Title Docking The Maurentania at Sandon Half Tide Liverpool." A vessel celebrated as both a technological marvel and a symbol of Edwardian luxury, the Mauretania was among the most famous ships ever to fly the Cunard flag. The scene captures the raw drama of docking—a liner nearly 800 feet long being carefully maneuvered into place by two squat yet powerful tugs, all set against the iconic backdrop of Liverpool’s bustling waterfront.

Composition & Technique
Eddie Baker’s mastery shines here through his balance of accuracy and atmosphere.
Colors: The painting is alive with contrast—glowing red-and-black funnels against a soft, pastel-toned sky; the inky mass of the hull set against the glimmer of green-blue water.
Brushstrokes: Smooth, confident sweeps articulate the liner’s monumental hull, while finer, lively strokes describe rigging, smoke, and reflections, giving the painting a sense of motion and immediacy.
Style: A realist hand, but with a narrative painter’s eye—Baker invites the viewer into the coordinated dance between ship and tug, steel and steam, grandeur and grit.
Composition: The liner is slightly off-center, her mass balanced by the purposeful tugboats in the foreground. The diagonal tension in the arrangement conveys both power and precision.
The work succeeds as both a historical document and a dramatic marine tableau.

The Ships Depicted
RMS Mauretania (1907) – Cunard Line
Owners: Built for the Cunard Steamship Company, as part of a contract with the British Government. Cunard received government subsidies in exchange for providing ships that could be converted to armed merchant cruisers in wartime.
Builder: Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Engines: Powered by Charles Parsons’ pioneering steam turbines, enabling record-breaking speeds.
Fame: Held the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic crossing for 22 years—a record unmatched in maritime history.
Wartime Service: Requisitioned during WWI as both a troopship and hospital ship. Known as “HMS Mauretania” during service.
Legacy: Beloved for her Edwardian interiors, which rivaled the finest hotels of London and Paris. Retired in 1934, she remains one of the most celebrated liners in transatlantic history.

Tugboat Egerton – Liverpool & Glasgow Salvage Association
The tug shown at the bow is the SS Egerton, part of Liverpool’s hard-working tug fleet. Named after the prominent Egerton family, she was one of the stout, coal-burning tugs built to maneuver liners many times her size. Her role here highlights the strength and reliability of the Mersey’s unsung workhorses.

Tugboat Wellington – Liverpool Dock Service
At the stern is the SS Wellington, another of Liverpool’s sturdy tugboats. These vessels were short-hulled, immensely powerful, and essential for swinging great liners into dock with precision. Without tugs like the Wellington, it would have been nearly impossible to berth giants such as the Mauretania in the narrow confines of Liverpool’s historic dock system.

?About the Artist – Eddie Baker (1940–2025)
Eddie Baker trained in Watford and began his career in the printing trade before turning to maritime art. Inspired by Frank Mason’s nautical illustrations, he became renowned for his historical accuracy and atmospheric storytelling.
His works are now represented in multiple museum collections across the UK, including the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre, South Wales Aviation Museum, and the Robertsbridge Aviation Society. Following his passing in 2025, his wife Dianna, with the support of Neil Davies, donated many of his works to public institutions.

The Frame
Presented in a finely moulded giltwood frame with linen slip, complementing the historic subject.
Framed Dimensions: 99 cm Width × 73cm High × 4 cm Depth.

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

Why You’ll Love It
A rare, large-scale depiction of Cunard’s RMS Mauretania.
Captures the golden age of steamship travel with cinematic detail.
Juxtaposes liner grandeur with tugboat grit.
Signed by Eddie Baker, celebrated for historical fidelity.
Rich Liverpool provenance and exhibition history.
Nearly 1 meter wide—a commanding, gallery-scale statement piece.
A maritime artwork of investment quality and enduring appeal.

Condition
Good overall condition with vibrant colours, stable surface, and no visible losses with foxing staining in places to the sky area. The gilt frame is sound with minor age wear related chips & losses in places. With a front protective glass cover & ready to hang.

Reserve: $10,960.00

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Condition

Used

Buyer's Premium

20%

Masterpiece Painting Docking the RMS Mauretania Ship at Sandon Half Tide Dock

Name: Masterpiece Painting Docking the RMS Mauretania Ship at Sandon Half Tide Dock
Brand: Baker Furniture
SKU: 225794207
Price: 5000 USD
Availability: InStock