The Lighthouse (Newlyn, Cornwall)

Stanhope Alexander Forbes 1857 - 1947

Summary

Two fishermen in a small rowing boat, coming back into harbour at Newlyn, in Cornwall, with their catch. Younger man stands in the stern of the boat sculling with a large oar, older bearded man in bow of boat dragging in the fishing line, catch visible in basket in bottom of boat. Port of Newlyn in background, lighthouse to left, moored boats inside harbour, beach and hills in background.

Display Label

The Lighthouse 1892 (exhibited 1893) Stanhope Alexander Forbes 1857-1947 Oil on canvas This work shows the harbour at Newlyn in Cornwall, where Forbes and several other British artists settled from the 1880s onwards. The artist had studied in Paris and travelled to Britanny, where he became a convert to painting outdoors. He brought this approach to Cornish subject matter and became well known to the fishing community. While Forbes was committed to working on the spot, there is at least one known study for this large work. The older man in this painting is 'Uncle' Henry Kitchen, whose descendants still live in Newlyn. His younger companion is John Henry Tonkin, who was apparently shy of hard work. Purchased 1892.3