Moving Waterloo Station

Some of you may know that in 2011 the NRM will be opening a dedicated Art Gallery space within the museum. This will showcase a programme of changing exhibitions featuring works from our own art collection as well as railway-inspired artworks from across the world.

Below are some photos of us moving the extremely large Terence Cuneo painting, Waterloo Station, out of the ‘lean-to’ next to Station Hall, which is where the Art Gallery will eventually be situated (it previously housed SECR D class 737 and Pullman “Topaz”).

This was a tricky manoeuvre given the size of the work, and as you can see it took quite a*number of people*to move it.









The painting, made in 1967, was commissioned by the Science Museum and was painted by Cuneo in situ in the museum. The painting shows a perspective view of the concourse of Waterloo Station, London, as seen from the first floor British Rail Southern Region Board Room windows, and features the artist, his wife and daughter, his assistant, various staff of the Science Museum – including the then Director – and even a couple of politicians. Cuneo has depicted the same view point as the iconic posters Waterloo Station – Peace and Waterloo Station – War by Helen McKie, of 1947.

This is one of those paintings that the more time you spend looking at it the more you see. Harold Wilson being barked at by a bulldog, Cuneo’s trademark mouse perched atop a Johnnie Walker advertisement, the artist carrying his easel, the huge departures board which is now in the NRM collection…

The painting has now been re-hung in the Station Hall and will remain on display while the works are being carried out for the new Art Gallery.


Filed under: Image collections Tagged: art, art gallery, cuneo, painting, science museum, station hall, waterloo

 

I am very pleased to hear that you are setting up a display of art - my partner and I were most disappointed that the original art gallery off the main entrance was closed some years ago to make space for other facilities and not replaced.