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40 X 50 Royal Quad vintage
British Railways "Progress" poster from 1957, featuring artwork by the renowned artist Terence Cuneo.
Poster Details
Artist: Terence Tenison Cuneo (1907–1996), a prolific British painter known for his depictions of railways and military scenes.
Subject: The artwork depicts the interior of the Swindon Railway Works in Wiltshire, England. It showcases the production of a new "Warship" Class diesel-hydraulic locomotive during the transition from steam to diesel power.
Historical Context: Commissioned by British Railways, the poster was a declaration of the Modernisation and Re-equipment Plan. It highlights the "progress" of this plan by showing a modern diesel engine being lowered into its chassis by an overhead gantry, while a steam locomotive is being overhauled in the background.
Fun Fact: As is typical for his work, Cuneo included his "signature" mouse somewhere in the painting, observing the ongoing work.
Key Features in the Image
Dominant Foreground: The construction of a Warship class diesel locomotive.
Historical Contrast: A steam locomotive is visible alongside the new diesel technology, representing the era's transition.
Background Detail: An 1837 Great Western Railway locomotive can be seen on a raised platform in the far background. |
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