Glossary: Canals and Art

The history of the British Isles is dominated in the 18th century by the Industrial revolution and the rise of the transport system needed to bring goods to the market place. In 1776 the Bridgewater Canal was completed and this became the catalyst that started half a century of canal building. By the mid 19th century however, the canals were almost redundant, their demise resulting from the railway network that moved goods faster and more efficiently. When the canals were nationalized in 1947 much of the network was in a severe state of neglect and un-navigable, but the 1950’s and 60’s saw a great rise in the leisure industry and many canals were restored and re opened. The work of restoration continues to this day and it is a remarkable fact that there are more boats on our canals today than during its commercial heyday.

At Room4art.com™ we are fortunate that the descendants of Edward Eaton Brannan (1886-1957) have asked us to sell some of their grandfather’s paintings. Edward Brannan was trained at the Grimsby school of Art and was a professional artist all his life. He was a recorder of the countryside in and around his native Lincolnshire painting in oil, watercolour and etching. His works are of considerable quality and constitute an important reference to the life in England during the inter war period. One of his favorite subjects was canals and locks, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire being crisscrossed by them. When he was painting in the 1920’s and 30’s many of these canals had fallen into disrepair due to neglect and the loss of navigable stretches of water. These paintings represent a moment in history and many of his works are of canals that have now been restored to their previous glory.
We are pleased to offer for sale a selection of Edward Brannan’s paintings of canals and their associated buildings which can be viewed here.

We also have some other artists' depictions of canal scenes, including some by Edward Brannan's sons.  The vast majority of works sold at Room4art.com™ have a known provenance, having often been purchased from the artist or their descendants. The condition of every painting is fully detailed and has been photographed in high resolution, so with the aid of our zoom facility you can examine every work in minute detail and therefore buy with confidence.  

© 21st Century Gallery Ltd