Ancient Mining is an original black-and-white mining painting by Charles William Brown, known as C W Brown and “The Potteries Primitive”. Signed and dated 1946, this post-war work combines watercolour wash, graphite and black ink to depict a bare-chested miner lying on his back underground, pick in hand, cutting at the coal above him.
Two Davy lamps illuminate the working area, silhouetting wooden props and tools against the darkness. The scene focuses on the confined conditions and physical labour of underground coal mining.
The painting is signed and dated on the front in black ink. Its title appears within a decorative border at the bottom centre of the picture and is also handwritten on the reverse in pencil by the artist.
Title: Ancient Mining, 1946, by C W Brown.
Medium: Watercolour wash, graphite and black ink.
Image size: 18.5 cm x 28 cm / approximately 7.5" x 11".
Unframed. Framing is available on request.
About the artist
Brown worked as a mine safety manager during the 1930s and 1940s. This painting may have been used in his mine-safety teaching, although that use has not been confirmed.
A substantial collection of Brown’s work was donated to The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent. This painting offers an opportunity to collect an original work by the artist.
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Phone: 07932 717 718
Email: shop@barewall.co.uk