It was he more than any other artist in Cornwall who was responsible for introducing a looser, more free style of painting mostly conducted out of doors, or plein air, as in the French manner.He had been encouraged down this path not long before when the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool bought A Street in Brittany he had executed in Cancale in 1881, and set about preaching this method to others in his newly established Newlyn Art School in the town. A year after he had arrived here, the Royal Academy bought his Fish Sale on a Cornish Beach and his status was confirmed.

Forbes had been born in Dublin and after training at the Lambeth School of Art and the Royal Academy Schools, moved to Paris where he was instructed by L??on Bonnat and found the rustic Realism of Jean-Fran??ois Millet and Jules Bastien-Lepage compelling. These French influences were continued when he moved to Brittany with fellow artist Henry Herbert la Thangue (1859-1929), the leading exponent of painting out of doors at the time. Both Forbes and la Thangue had attended Dulwich College together and both art schools, but after their time in Brittany they went their separate ways.

A wonderful exhibition entitled Focus on Forbes celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Stanhope Forbes is on at Penlee House Galleryamp; Museum, Penzance currently.

Showing both their own fine collection and sensational works from afar, this is an exhibition not to miss which is situated in an elegant Victorian gallery in its own grounds, until September 8.

Newlyn was, believed Forbes, his "English Concarneau". His first pictures were distinctly French in their appearance, though later he was to modify this approach to his work, making a conscious effort toward Naturalism on which he was to depend for the rest of his artistic career. He hoped his subjects would enjoy the works he produced; he was painting for everyone - not only the London socialites but also the middle classes on his doorstep in Cornwall.

As the number of artists began to dwindle in Newlyn, Forbes established his now famous school of painting, together with his wife and fellow artist, Elizabeth Adela, in 1899. It worked! The Newlyn School is a reminder of his early ideals, which were to continue despite the tragically early loss of his wife in 1912 and the death of their son during the First World War. After this, many of his paintings included children, which was something Elizabeth had specialised in.

Fish Sale on a Cornish Beach is typical of his work. It was shown in the Royal Academy in 1885 and is on loan from Plymouth museum for the exhibition. Forbes was also one of the founder members of the New English Art Club in 1886, but left this association in favour of the clean air of Cornwall and the rustic appeal of villagers living off the land and sea, and divorced by any hint of industrial grime.

He was still to be seen painting outside into the 1930s and died a few months before his 90th birthday.

This focus exhibition is intended as a precursor to a major retrospective exhibition in the future, and is the first time for more than 40 years so many of his stunning images have been brought together in a single exhibition.

article copyright WESTERN MORNING NEWS 

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