Here is one of the most impressive Tony Giles paintings we have ever had in the Lander Gallery. It feels very big- in fact it IS larger than the average.
The title is CITY OF TRURO: you can see the City of course, dominated by the cathedral. Look again, however and among the many details you can find a steam engine puffing out joyous smoke into the clouds. That is the famous record- breaking locomotive, the CITY OF TRURO.
Giles was immensely fond of he railways and everything to do with the GWR, a love that dated back to his childhood as the son of an engine driver. The sight of the famous train on the viaduct over Truro must have raised his spirits greatly- as his picture does for us now.
You can find Lander's Monument, the Town Clock, the old West Briton Office and various Truro buildings. Interestingly he has painted the river as it used to be, flowing in the open air right up to Lemon Street. In fact the quay had been covered in many decades before this picture was painted- another example of the artist's love of historical detail.
Newly cleaned and reframed, this painting has been attracting plenty of attention at the Lander Gallery.
