TERRENCE CUNEO | Chassagne in the V12 Sunbeam Breaking Records at Brooklands
Oil on Canvas
64 x 77cms, 25 x 30 inches
Signed Cuneo and dated May 1962 (lower left)
Terence Cuneo’s Chassagne in the V12 Sunbeam Breaking Records at Brooklands is a striking automotive painting by one of the foremost Modern British artists. This racing artwork captures the speed and power of early motor racing, with the gleaming Sunbeam surging forward against the backdrop of a steam locomotive. This wonderful 20th-century artwork embodies the golden age of engineering and is a must-have for collectors of motorsport and fine art.
Sunbeam’s Louis Coatalen built a series of racing specials carrying the name ‘Toodles’, pet name for his wife Olive. ‘Toodles V’ was fitted with a V-12 aero engine, a fashionable engine choice at the time when ultimate speed was the goal.
Renowned for his dynamic depictions of engineering, industry, and military events, Terrence Cuneo’s paintings are celebrated for their technical precision, dramatic lighting and energy. Chassagne in the V12 Sunbeam Breaking Records at Brooklands is an electrifying celebration of power, speed, and mechanical ingenuity. Capturing Jean Chassagne’s record-breaking 107.95 mph run at Brooklands in 1913, this oil painting thrusts the viewer into a moment of high-velocity triumph. The scene is a masterclass in dynamic composition, where the streamlined V12 Sunbeam tears across the steeply banked circuit, its wheels blurred by motion and its roaring engine kicking up dust and debris in its wake. The driver leans into the car’s force, gripping the wheel with steely focus, embodying the sheer daring required to push early racing machines to their limits.
Cuneo’s handling of movement and atmosphere is extraordinary. The track, curving vertiginously into the distance, reinforces the peril and exhilaration of high-speed racing, while the steam locomotive in the background mirrors the car’s trajectory, establishing a visual parallel between two of the great engineering marvels of the era. Above, the pastel pink haze softens the intensity of the scene, introducing an evocative warmth that contrasts with the crisp snow-topped houses in the distance. This masterful interplay of light and temperature transforms the painting into more than a technical study of motorsport—it becomes a historical and emotional narrative of human achievement.Though best known for his railway paintings, Terence Cuneo was captivated by all forms of engineering, from locomotives to military vehicles and high-performance racing cars. His fascination was not purely technical; he viewed these machines as embodiments of human ambition, innovation, and adventure. His ability to translate their energy and complexity into oil paintings made him one of the foremost interpreters of industrial and mechanical subjects in the twentieth century.
Cuneo’s technique was defined by a remarkable balance between precision and painterly dynamism. He captured mechanical details with meticulous accuracy, rendering the gleaming metal surfaces and exposed engine components of the Sunbeam with absolute fidelity. Yet, his work never became static or overly rigid—his expressive brushwork imbued the scene with movement, allowing the viewer to feel the raw power of the machine as it hurtled forward. His command of light and shadow further heightened the drama, with reflections glancing off the car’s polished bodywork and dust clouds blurring the track’s surface to create a tangible sense of speed.Throughout his career, Cuneo painted moments of engineering triumph, from the thundering advance of steam locomotives to the relentless power of military tanks. His enthusiasm for these subjects was driven by an admiration for the people who built, maintained, and operated them. In his eyes, these machines were more than just mechanical wonders—they were symbols of human progress and resilience.
Chassagne in the V12 Sunbeam Breaking Records at Brooklands is a remarkable fusion of Cuneo’s technical mastery and his deep appreciation for motorsport history. The Sunbeam ‘Toodles V,’ engineered by Louis Coatalen and piloted by legends like Chassagne, Dario Resta, and K. Lee Guinness, was a symbol of early twentieth century racing innovation. Brooklands, the birthplace of British motorsport, provided the proving ground where speed records were shattered, and the limits of automotive engineering were continuously redefined.In capturing this moment, Cuneo not only documents a legendary achievement but also infuses the scene with an emotional and historical weight that elevates it beyond a mere motorsport painting. The composition’s interplay of speed, mechanical prowess, and atmospheric richness makes it a standout work in his oeuvre. For collectors, this piece represents an extraordinary opportunity to own a painting that embodies the fearless pursuit of speed, the brilliance of early automotive design, and the singular artistry of Terence Cuneo at his finest.
