TERENCE CUNEO (1907-1996)

Castles at Tyseley depicts the Great Western Railway steam locomotive named Clun Castle No. 7029, in the roundhouse depot at Tyseley in Birmingham. Cuneo painted the present work the day after the last express steam train ran from Birmingham's Snow Hill station. In the background, Cuneo has depicted other steam preserved locomotives: Pendennis Castle No. 4079; and The Great Marquess; together with A Pannier Class Locomotive No. 1638, preserved by the Dart Valley Railway in Devon.

The artist, who felt a genuine passion for huge, powerful machines of any kind, emphasises the idea of the engine as a living creature, with a will of its own. Bustling movement is masterfully created through the juxtaposition of fluid colour areas of light and dark in the shades of smoke set against the roof of the depot, framing Clun Castle No. 7029: Cuneo fully focusses on celebrating this remarkably powerful locomotive its full might and glory. Castles at Tyseley is amongst the finest examples of Cuneo’s railway work, truly showcasing his dedication to capture the last years of the steam era.

We are very grateful to the Cuneo Society for their assistance in cataloguing this work.