In the Nineteenth Century the Northumbrians show the World what can be done with Iron...

William Bell Scott (Edinburgh 1811 - Penkill Castle 1890). Oil painting on canvas, In the Nineteenth Century the Northumbrians show the World what can be done with Iron and Coal by William Bell Scott (Edinburgh 1811 - Penkill Castle 1890), signed and dated, at top of anvil: W B Scott June 1861, and again, on the hoist: W B S. The painting is filled with representations of the industry of Tyneside, in the background are the wires of the telegraph and Stephenson’s innovative High Level Bridge with steam trains on the top level, and carriages on the lower. The river is busy with shipping both steam and sail, under the arch of the old bridge is a Keel loaded with coal, on the quayside are fisher folk, merchants and a photographer. In the foreground are the working drawings of a locomotive, a newspaper dated 1861 recording the victory of Garibaldi at Caserta, behind is the air-pump of a marine engine, an anchor, the Armstrong shell and great gun on which a girl sits and waits with food for her father. The name Harry Clasper appears as graffiti on the wall. Clasper was a famous professional oarsmen as well as an inventive boat-builder. The figures are portraits of men employed at Hawks, Crawshaw & Co.’s and Stephenson’s works, and Sir Charles Edward Trevelyan, heir to Wallington wields the sledge-hammer. One of a series of eight oil paintings illustrating the history of the English borders painted between 1856 and 1861. Beginning in 1857 the paintings were shown at the Literary Society, Newcastle, in the following order: Saint Cuthbert and King Egfrid; Building the Roman Wall; The Death of Bede; The Descent of the Danes; The Spur in the Dish; Gilpin making Peace; Grace Darling; Iron and Coal. The complete set was exhibited at the French Gallery, Pall Mall, in 1861. A preliminary watercolour version, of around 1861 is in the V&A (362-1891). Wallington, Northumberland (Accredited Museum)