West Cornwall has provided inspiration for many artists over the centuries, the best known of these have become known as the Newlyn School of Artists, They came from many parts of Great Britain and overseas to spend some time living and painting the local landscapes and people. Some remained for months, perhaps years, others eventually made their homes here. Many of them submitted their work to the Royal Academy and other exhibitions, some became nationally and internationally known. Amongst them were artists who were born and lived out their lives in local towns and villages, this did not preclude their exhibiting at the Royal Academy if the work they submitted was accepted. One of these was Richard Thomas Pentreath (1806-1869) a portrait and landscape painter. Others were content to exhibit and sell their work locally. Amongst these was Herbert Victor, born in Mousehole he continued to live there throughout his life, painting local scenes mainly in watercolour. His work sold both to local people and to visitors to the area. Many local homes would have had one of his paintings displayed, some purchased as special birthday gifts or a wedding present. When I eventually left Mousehole to work I took with me a Herbert Victor painting of Mousehole, a gift from my parents and a constant reminder of ‘home’ it followed my progress around the country until I retired and returned to live in Newlyn.
There were others who left West Cornwall never to return, a decline in mining in the second half of the 19th century and hard times in fishing and farming led many to seek work in other countries, principally America, South Africa and Australia. What better memento of the home they were leaving could they have than one of Herbert Victor’s paintings. Perhaps even a view which included a glimpse of the very house they were leaving, fully intending to return one day, many never came back.
Recently I received an email from Barry Harvey. His father, Harold Harvey, was born in Newlyn in 1911. Four years later he emigrated with his parents to Australia, never to return. Barry has visited Cornwall three times and writes that he came to Newlyn to walk the streets as his ancestors did and that it was like finding his roots and returning home. He owns an original watercolour (pictured here) that his grandmother purchased from the artist, as she loved the painting so much. Painted around 1910 she would have started her married life in the small two-storey house in the middle of the picture, 39 Fore Street. It was here that Barry’s father, Harold, was born.
At some time over the years someone has cut off a section from the right hand side of the painting to put it into a smaller frame. In doing this they removed the artist’s name. Barry thought that I might be able to identify the artist. I think that those of you who know Herbert Victor’s work will agree that this view was almost certainly painted by him. It would have been an early work.
Barry’s father recalled that the missing section was of the harbour, I would suggest the South Pier. It seems probable that Mrs Harvey particularly wanted the home she was leaving to be included in the view painted. Perhaps someone my read this who has a similar painting and could provide a photo of it that I could send to Barry …OR….why not send a copy of YOUR Herbert Victor painting to www.newlyn.info and we could have a small selection of Herbert Victor paintings in the images section of the website.
Margaret Perry.
