Brangwyn received his first mural commission in 1895 when he was only 28 and completed his last mural in 1947 when he was 80 years old. In those 50 years he had received over 20 mural commissions and his completed works cover over 2,000 sq m (1/2 acre of canvas).
In general his murals were well balanced, orchestrated by strong horizontals and verticals, figures were outlined in blue, the scale was consistent throughout, and the compositions empathised with the architectural setting. Brangwyn painted only 2 murals in situ, Galeries L’Art Nouveau, Paris and Casa Cuseni, Taormina (click here for more information).
Click on the title of each work for more information and images.
Bing’s L’Art Nouveau, 22 Rue de Provence, Paris, 1895 (M2449). Two friezes and various stencil decorations for exterior of building commissioned by Siegfried Bing. Exterior artwork obliterated. Keim’s process on canvas, each frieze 5486 cm long.
Royal Exchange, City of London, 1900-1906 (M1136). Commissioned by Thomas Lane Devitt. Roberson’s spirit fresco, 533.4×135.3cm.
Worshipful Company of Skinners, Dowgate Hill, London, Great Hall, 1901-1909 (M1139). Commission gained through Devitt. Oil on canvas, 6 panels measuring 289.6x320cm, 4 measuring 289.6×152.4cm. Harmony in gallery measures 152.5x365cm. Four further panels installed 1917, measure 289.6×152.4cm.
Canadian Grand Trunk Railway Offices, Cockspur Street, London (now in Ottawa Conference Center, Canada), 1909-1910 (M2341). Tempera on heavy jute canvas, 137.2x2194cm.
Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, Fenchurch Street, London, Committee Luncheon Room, 1908-1914 (M2619). Commission gained through Devitt. Panels removed, stored, lost. Oil on canvas, 4 panels measured 137.2×121.9cm, 4 panels 137.2×243.8cm, 2 panels 137.2×91.4cm, and lunette 243.8×670.6cm
Panama-Pacific International Exposition, Court of the Agfes, San Francisco (now in Herbst Theatre, Veteran’s Building Auditorium, San Francisco, USA), 1914 (M1323). Oil on absorbent coarse textured jute canvas, 8 panels measuring 762×365.8cm.
Cuyahoga County Court House, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, lunette, 1911-1915 (M1142). Oil mixed with wax, on canvas, 457.2x1524cm.
St Aidan’s, Roundhay Road, Leeds, 1908-1916 (M1108). Commissioned by Robert Hawthorne Kitson. Rust’s Vitreous Mosaic, 90 sq m apse, 27.9 sq m sea wall.
Manitoba Legislative Building, Winnipeg, Canada, 1918-1921 (M1403). Flat oil on canvas, 457.2×670.6cm
Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, Sussex, chapel, 1912-1923 (M1109). Egg tempera on canvas, 14 panels measuring 243.8×426.7cm, 2 panels 243.8×213.4cm.
Selfridges, Oxford Street, London, dome decoration, 1921-1923 (M2157). Commissioned by Harry Gordon Selfridge, unexcuted. The dome was 21 metres in diameter and the interior was to have been covered with mosaic.
State Capitol, Jefferson City, USA, 1915-1925 (M1135). Flat oil on canvas, eye of dome 1097.3cm in diameter; 4 pemdentives each 731.5cm high, 1463cm wide at top and 457cm wide at base; 8 lower dome panels approximately 487.7×853.4cm.
British Empire Murals, 1925-1932 (M1145). Commissioned by Lord Iveagh and intended for Royal Gallery, Wetsminster. Now housed in Brangwyn Hall, Guildhall, Swansea. Oil and tempera on canvas, 10 panels each measuring 365x365cm; 6 panels measuring 610x396cm.
GE (previously RCA) building, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, USA, 1930-1934 (M1110). Commissioned by John D Rockefeller Jr. Tempera on coarse canvas, 4 panels each 518.2x762cm.
Odham’s Press, Long Acre, London, lunette, 1935-1936 (M1878). Commissioned by Lord Southwood, now in private collection. Oil and tempera, 396.2×548.6cm.
Holy Name of Mary Church, Middlesbrough, Last Supper, 1939-1945 (M1179). Oil on canvas, 94×387.4xm.
St Joseph’s, Stokesley, 1946-1947 (M1825). Oil on canvas, 137.2x401cm. The church and contents were destroyed in fire, 1974.