BEN MAILE "Tin Mine" Original Signed Framed Watercolour

Artist: Ben Maile (1922-2017)

Title: Tin Mine

Medium: Original Watercolour

Signature: Signed lower left

Provenance: Accompanied by the original Ben Maile Gallery purchase receipt dated 22nd March 1975 and a copy valuation letter from Ben Maile Galleries dated 1978

Artwork Size: 54cm × 36cm (21.3" x 14.2")

Framed Size: Approximately 82cm × 59cm (32.3" x 23.2")

Framing: Presented in a traditional gilt-effect frame with double mount

Condition: Image in good condition. Frame displays light age-related wear commensurate with age. Please examine all photographs carefully as they form part of the description.

About the Artwork

Tin Mine is an atmospheric original watercolour by celebrated Cornish artist Ben Maile, depicting a dramatic mining landscape inspired by Cornwall's rich industrial heritage. Executed in Maile's characteristically expressive style, the painting centres upon a weathered engine house and prominent chimney stack set beneath a turbulent sky, evoking the romance and history of Cornwall's once-thriving tin mining industry.

Particularly appealing is the accompanying provenance. The original Ben Maile Gallery receipt dated 22nd March 1975 describes the work as an original watercolour titled Tin Mine and further notes that the painting was "taken from a sketch of the Luke Antony Mine area". Such contemporary documentation offers a fascinating connection to the artist's working methods and provides collectors with an unusually well-documented example of Maile's work.

Whilst the gallery documentation references the Luke Antony Mine area, the composition bears a striking resemblance to the famous engine houses of the Cornish mining landscape. In particular, the partially ruined structure with its distinctive missing roof and prominent chimney stack strongly recalls the historic Wheal Coates engine house near St Agnes, one of Cornwall's most iconic mining landmarks. Although this identification cannot be confirmed with certainty, the similarities are certainly noteworthy and add further interest to the work.

Ben Maile's loose brushwork and subtle use of earthy browns, ochres and greys successfully capture both the rugged beauty and melancholic grandeur of Cornwall's industrial past. The result is a highly evocative image that will appeal not only to collectors of Maile's work but also to those with an appreciation for Cornwall's mining history and landscape.

Measuring approximately 54cm × 36cm (21.3" x 14.2"), the watercolour is presented within an attractive traditional frame and remains an excellent decorative and collectible example of twentieth-century Cornish art.

About the Artist

Ben Maile (1922-2017) was one of Cornwall's most recognisable and commercially successful artists. Although perhaps best known internationally for his military subjects and historical paintings, Maile's enduring affection for Cornwall is reflected throughout his artistic career, with countless works depicting the county's harbours, fishing villages, coastal scenery and mining heritage.

Working across watercolour and oil, Maile developed a distinctive style characterised by confident brushwork, dramatic skies and a strong sense of atmosphere. His paintings often sought to capture the spirit of a place rather than a purely documentary representation, giving his work a timeless and romantic quality that continues to attract collectors today.

Cornwall's historic tin mining industry provided an especially rich source of inspiration for the artist. The abandoned engine houses and chimney stacks scattered across the Cornish landscape offered powerful reminders of the region's industrial past, and Maile returned frequently to such subjects throughout his career.

Today, Ben Maile's work remains highly collectable, particularly pieces with strong Cornish subjects and documented provenance. Examples accompanied by original gallery paperwork are encountered relatively infrequently and provide an added level of historical interest and authenticity.