SIMPSON ON ANTIQUES ROADSHOW!

Apologies for the lack of blogs- the gallery was lured by the siren song of FACEBOOK where you will now find regular postings also!

SO
Did you see ANTIQUES ROADSHOW from Falmouth?

There was a large and splendid painting of Lamorna by Charles Simpson.
We are offering a similarly impressive coastal scene by Simpson, painted a little further around the coast to the right of the harbour at Lamorna.
DYING LIGHT AT CARN BARGES was in the Royal Academy exhibition of 1936 and is on a grand scale. It measures 40" x 50" and is in an exhibition frame.

Unlike the one on Antiques Roadshow, ours is available for delivery to you in time for Christmas.

OMG!! FACEBOOK, LOL

You can tell from the above that the Lander Gallery is at the cutting edge of modern culture as well as technology. We have our own FACEBOOK page now.

In fact your blogger does not really  understand it as well as he pretends.
For some reason we need lots of people to click on our FACEBOOK page and then click on the LIKE icon- which is comparable to saying you are a friend. When we have sufficient FRIENDS something good will happen to our page but I am not quite sure what that may be.

SO if you are a Facebook type, do feel welcome to have a look at our infant page

This is WET SAND WALK by Caroline Atkinson, who spots another icon here

CORNWALL IN 1913

These images of Cornwall in 1913 are strangely powerful.
Many of these scenes are evocative of the paintings of Newlyn and St Ives; some of the doorways, farmhouses and streets are just as Forbes and the others would have painted them.
The moorland views have not changed that much.
Have a look...

http://www.retronaut.co/2010/02/cornwall-august-1913-in-colour/

OPIES' PALETTE (correct apostophe)

Following the note about the palette which had belonged both to John Opie RA and to his great- nephew Edward Opie .. a whisper tells me that the new owner is indeed the most suitable possible, with an identity which will not remain secret for long.

ART ON THE BEACH

PORTHOWAAN looks like a good place to be for their ART ON THE BEACH event in August.

Have a look at the website
http://www.mpecopark.co.uk/?p=2156

Cornwall Big Paint In

3^rd – 5^th August 2012

ON THE DAY … Meet at the Eco Park at 10am to walk down the valley footpath to the beach, bring your painting materials and join in the fun! As well as the painting on the beach we have workshops and art projects goin on all day at the Eco Park: Kiln-building and smoke firing ceramics (a chance to decorate your own heart shaped tiles using all sorts of strange and wonderful things) Cyanotpe photography workshop, Kamishibai Japanese storytelling workshop, carrot-cars workshop, + grinding natural pigment paints from stones collected around the Eco Park. Or bring some materials and make your own sculptures, inspired by this stunning landscape! Artworks created during the day can be entered in the Sunday Charity Art Auction, to raise valuable funds for the new education building and offering the public a chance to bid on your masterpeices!

Established in the name of creativity and freedom to enjoy the surrounding natural landscape, Cornwall’s Big Paint In and Build Project invites artists from all walks of life to come together for a weekend of painting, drawing and sculpture.

The Big Paint In was conceived in 2011 after artist Paul Wadsworth was asked for written permission to paint on his local beach, surely this was sign of bureaucracy gone mad? In response 80 fellow artists joined Paul on this beach for the first Big Paint In; a day open to anyone who wanted to come and create, and a reminder that individual freedom and human interaction are vital to the creative spirit.
Now firmly established as an annual event, this year the Cornwall Big Paint In will be taking place over the weekend of the 3^rd – 5^th August at The Mount Pleasant Ecological Park, Porthtowan and local beach. We have expanded the opportunity to cover the whole weekend and to include works in sculpture, interactive works, environmental and ecological art, responding to this spectacular landscape for The Build Project.
The Big Paint In 2012 also gives artists the opportunity to donate works for a
LIVE CHARITY AUCTION on Sunday 5^th August at 2pm.
The project as a whole is being organised by artists working in collaboration with The Down to Earth Foundation, a non-profit organisation promoting sustainability through education and creative initiatives (http://www.dtef.org.uk/). Through the charity auction, we hope to raise considerable funds towards the construction of a new DTEF eductation facility, a fine example of contemporary sustainable construction to be built on-site at the Eco Park.
THE BIG PAINT IN – SATURDAY 4th AUGUST 2012
Open to all and free to attend, from 10am on Saturday morning at Mount Pleasant Eco Park, artists will walk to ‘a nearby beach’ from which to draw, paint and create, leaving the build teams sculpting on the land … don’t be shy, bring your paints, along with your creative spirit and join in this FREE CREATIVE DAY!
The Build Project, taking place at the Eco Park offers … WIDE OPEN SPACES, spectacular and inspiring views across the landscape, various natural materials from which to build, lots of keen participants to work with – and all on a site open to the public from which to showcase your talents!
An opportunity to create large scale structures, which can be temporary, permanent, semi permanent… we will be making, in response to the surrounding landscape, with a working brief, HOW CAN ART HELP US CONNECT TO THE LAND?
Projects already in discussion include – building a wood Fired kiln for smoke firing ceramics, earth sculptures and interventions in the natural landscape, along with tribal painting on the Cob Courtyard wall; grinding our own earth pigments (kids will love this)…if you would like to get involved with any of these mentioned projects or have an idea for another, please get in touch!
On Saturday evening from 7pm till late, LIVE MUSIC + PERFORMANCE IN THE ECO-PARK BARN – with a licensed bar and compare Bob Deveraux in a jam-packed night of entertainment! £4 entry … more details to follow
The Mount Pleasant Eco Park Wild-Campsite is offering you the chance to envelop yourself in this creative experience, with an all inclusive weekend ticket of camping, breakfasts and evening meals served in the Cob Courtyard, along with Friday and Saturday night entertainment – (fri – sun all for £46!) – but book in early as there are limited weekend tickets available more info here
CHARITY ART AUCTION on Sunday at 2pm. After spending the morning finishing off our build projects, we are raising money for the construction of Down to Earth Foundations new education facility – by auctioning off donated works by some of the talented artists from the weekend. We hope to offer works by big named artists up for sale, along with works by the local community, and all the participating artists from the weekend … this will not be a pristine hung show but a chaotic collection of work for people to come and see … no frames needed!… with local auctioneer Philip Buddell leading the sale, this will be a real crowd draw and also provide an opportunity for the public to view many of the works created over this weekend.
If you would like to get involved with the Build Project, or be one of the performers in the Barn or Cob Courtyard, contact Tim or Amy on 01209 891500 / info@mpecopark.co.uk
To find out more information or to join the crew of The Big Paint In, visit Paul Wadsworths websites or contact him on 07814897447 paulwads@btinternet.com
website: www.paulwadsworth.co.uk facebook group: cornwallbigpaintin
Facebook event: Cornwall Big Paint In + Build Project‘Start spreading the word, the more the merrier… no art police so anyone and everyone welcome, even if you have never touched a paint brush or if you have shown at the Tate… any creativity welcome: 2d, 3d, digital, installation … sandcastles!’ Paul Wadsworth

OPIES' PALETTE

AN ANTIQUE ARTIST'S PALETTE, SIGNED TO BACK EDWARD OPIE, ST AGNES, CORNWALL 1839, ALSO DATED 1788 IN BLACK PAINT WITH CHEQUE SIGNED AMELIA OPIE FOR £8 ON THE BACK MESSRS MARSH, SIBBALD, TRACEY, PAUNTLEROY & SON

http://www.bespokeauctions.co.uk/Catalogues/current/page3.html

An intriguing item was sold at BESPOKE AUCTIONS yesterday.

It was an artist's palette, much used and much coved with paint, that had belonged to EDWARD OPIE (1810- 1894) and apparently to JOHN OPIE RA (1761- 1807).
(Thus the apostrophe in our heading is in the correct position)

Edward was the great- nephew of John Opie RA

Edward grew up in HARMONY COT  the same house as his famous great- uncle John. It is still there at Blowinghouse, Trevellas, near St Agnes in Cornwall. No doubt there were hopes in the family that the artistic talent would pass down the generations, so the great success of Edward would have been a cause for celebration. Specialising in portraiture, Edward Opie was in great demand.
By 1830 he was painting a portrait each week in Truro; and he spent time at Plymouth also. The maritime business of Plymouth Dock brought a constante flow of customers for his portraits.
London remained the ultimate goal for any artist and Edward was journeying up there to study and to seek more portrait commissions.
His great aunt was Amelia Opie, widow of artist John. She and John and lived in Berners Street, London, but after john's untimely death she moved back to her native Norwich. She did continue to travel and did spend time in London. She certainly met Edward Opie.

1839 saw a major milestone as in that year Edward exhibited at the Royal Academy for the first time. That is the date on the palette.
The palette was not new in 1839- it looks as though it may have been purchased in 1788 in which case it would first have belonged to John Opie.

If the palette had always been at Harmony Cot, it seems unlikely that Edward would have decided to write a date on it after owning it for a long time.
A more attractive explanation is that Amelia Opie had kept the palette back when she sold the contents of her husband's studio after his death. She decided to give the palette to Edward because he was carrying on the family tradition. This was in the year of his first Royal Academy success.

I was bidding for it but did not buy it. It would be interesting to know who owns it now, as there is potential for important research here

Sport on the Shore

28 July – 8 September

www.landergallery.co.uk /       info@landergallery.co.uk

 (now you can find us on FACEBOOK !!)

To coincide with this year’s Olympics in London, Lander Gallery artists have produced work relating to various sports and leisure activities seen around the coastline of Cornwall.

Not only are Cornwall’s beaches and shorelines special places because of their stunning vistas, but they are also a playground for the young and old, whether it is surfing the big waves, building sandcastles, flying kites or just walking the dog. 

Surfing is not surprisingly one of the most popular sports in Cornwall and features in the work of several artists in this show. None more so than Paul Nicholls, whose dynamic paintings feature  surfers actually in the waves, his titles such as ‘Grip lip’ and ‘Barrelled’ reflecting the technical terminology of the sport.

Newquay based artist Ian Fox has captured the more vigorous sport of gig racing with his portrait of the Newquay Gig about to get under way as well as surfers getting ready to go in the water.

After a hard day in the water, surfers walking across a huge expanse of beach on their way home are the subjects for Richard Lannowe- Hall’s impressive colourful paintings. Kevin Cooper also uses the imagery of surfers collaged with tidal maps and other graphics to make his contemporary limited edition prints.

Gordon Hunt uses his unique pointillist style to capture the reflected light from the beach and silhouettes surfers against it. He also uses the same technique to portray families playing beach games such as cricket and football.

Dinghy sailing is another popular sport on the coast of Cornwall and Bodmin based artist Sally Jones has created some vivid paintings of sail boats racing and jockeying for position at the start of a race.

Caroline Atkinson’s paintings of Praa Sands and Mount’s Bay are still predominantly about the view but do feature the more leisurely activity of walking.

John Laver, whose beachscapes are  always popular at the Lander Gallery, has included on this occasion  views of the North coast Harlyn, Tregirls and Trevone  beaches with  kite flying  and sea fishing as the sporting activity.

 But the beach, for children, is all about having a close encounter with a seagull or digging or building a sandcastle. Cathy Stringer’s paintings make all of these children’s activities the focus of her delightful paintings.

Whether you are a Sports fan or not, this show has something for everyone.

You will find details of some of these on our website, www.landergallery.co.uk

We can usually arrange to have things delivered to your door by the next day.

Apologies to those who tried to link directly to our website last time- the link was incorrectly spelled.

We are open Monday to Saturday, 9am – 5.30pm.

Twitter: @vivhendra         /     Sign up for our BLOG: landergallery@blogspot.com

Needless to say, you can now follow us on FACEBOOK

What was it Wordsworth said? “To see the children sport upon the shore And hear the mighty waters rolling evermore” ..

OLD CORNWALL

OLD CORNWALL is the current theme at the Lander Gallery.

On the modern side we have ancient stones marking the forgotten significance of moorland which may look warm and sunny or wild and desolate. Ruined mine engine houses stand silent in sunshine or sunset. Steam engines pull their cargo down to Charlestown while time seems to have stood still for the GWR  at Newquay Railway Station. Old miners’ tracks lead away over sun -dappled meadows, swallows nest in old walls and the sea crashes onto rocks just as it did when the Men An Tol was being constructed.

We have a lovely selection of Old Cornwall paintings here and they are already selling well.

On the classics side there are our works from the Newlyn and St Ives schools, alongside the intriguing and increasingly popular Tony Giles.

Especially for this exhibition we are offering some unique historic documents. One remarkable treasure is an indenture concerning the sale of land in the areas of Perran in the Sands and St Columb the Higher in 1682. Richard Carter is selling large areas including Gull Rock- the landmark now known as Carter’s Rocks. So this is the actual document where Carter is selling Carter’s Rocks!

Other treasures include the result of a tax appeal by Francis Paynter lawyer in St Columb in 1807- what tax should he pay if he employs his own son?

The 1661 letter from Truro from the previous blog has now been sold.

Another reminder of the tin industry is the shimmering panel of tin from the Daubuz smelting works in Carvedras here in Truro. You can see how it acquired its lettering and Carvedras crest because it comes complete with its original stone mould.

 OLD CORNWALL runs until July 21^st.

www.landergallery/co.uk

WILLIAM GREGOR AND AN AMAZING COINCIDENCE!!

July 14^th is an interesting date. The Lander Gallery is preparing a special exhibition to welcome members of the Old Cornwall Society from all over the region when they descend on Truro.

Among the Treasures for sale are some unique historical documents. Viv Hendra was arranging the display of a particular letter written from Truro to a merchant in London in 1681, all about buying and selling tin. Suddenly to his astonishment he noticed that the date on the letter was none other than July 14^th- the same date as the Old Cornwall Societies’ visit!

What an amazing coincidence! The letter was written 331 years ago to the very day.

The writer was William Gregor- one of the old Truro families. He had just bought the tin after its “coinage” and was arranging to get it to London straight away. You can picture him walking down from the Coinage Hall to the quay in order to arrange the shipping. This document is fascinating as it gives details of the price of the tin in July 1681, the name of the vessel going up to London and the name of its master.

Gregor must have been doing very well because he had recently bought Trewarthenick Estate at Tregony and was able to build the big house there just five years later.

We think the document is unpublished and unresearched. It is likely that nobody else has looked at it properly for over three hunded years.

The 2^nd year Foundation Degree Photography and Digital Imaging students from Truro College are exhibiting at the Lander Gallery in Truro. This is their “end of course” exhibition entitled FOCUSED and it will showcase the best of their final college project.

The genres of work covered include fashion, landscape, portraiture, documentary, fine art and still life.

Once again the Lander Gallery is delighted to host an exhibition of work by students from Truro College. Their unusual perspectives always make for a stimulating show. This year there is once again an unpredictable variety.

The monochrome image of the zebra at Paignton Zoo is by Alex Scheurmier. It characterises a show that offers plenty to enjoy and plenty to think about.
You can meet the photographers at the Open Evening this Friday15th, 6pm- 8pm.

The show runs until Saturday.

TRURO COLLEGE RBA SCHOLARS

TRURO COLLEGE RBA SCHOLARS

The RBA- ROYAL SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS- is a prestigious establishment with an international reputation.
Mall Galleries hosts the RBA show each year- an important event on the art calendar.

 A recent development is that NADFAS (National Association of Decorative and Fine Art Societies) invited its many societies to sponsor students from their local Sixth Forms  as candidates for selection for the RBA show.

Truro DFAS put forward artists from two 6th forms- TRURO COLLEGE (Three Milestone out beyond Sainsburys)  and TRURO SCHOOL (high on the hill).

From the whole country only forty works were selected- and of these an impressive NINE were from Truro.

This week Truro College takes the huge marquee on the piazza for the End of Year exhibition- it is an excellent show well worth visiting.
Related to that, we are showing six of their RBA exhibits here at the Lander.

You are invited to come to the Lander and see them- you will appreciate why these promising young talents are entitled to describe themselves as RBA SCHOLARS:

Maria Gaffney- Hyde
Chloe Northover
Ben Reader
Rowan Todd

OPIE IN LEATHERHEAD

Viv Hendra gave a talk on John Opie to the Leatherhead Decorative and Fine Arts Society on Wednesday 9th.
Wonderful people, all very friendly and interested in the artist. They have a self portrait not so far away at Hatchlands- and London is not far away.

There was almost a catastrophe at lunchtime in London. I was in an upmarket establishment where there was a shoe cleaning machine in the Gentlemen's Cloakroom. It had a number of brushes that spun around- one did the cleaning, one put the polish on, and another brought up the shine. All went well until my shoelace got caught on the wheel and wound itself around the machine, pulling me inwards to the extent that the bottom of my trousers got caught as well. Nothing would turn the machine off and it was starting to make worrying noises as it jammed completely. This was not good for the dignity.

ELEMENTS- NEW GALLERY SHOW

Jeremy Capper’s four wooden pieces bear symbols of the four Elements- and by a fitting coincidence they are made from a piece of Ash given to the artist some years ago by none other than Sandra Perry our own catering manager!

AIR- a fresh breeze is almost tangible in the Cornish watercolour landscapes of Janet Treloar. Until recently Vice President of the Royal Watercolour Society, Janet has lifelong associations with the Penwith scenes she vividly depicts.  Stronger winds bend the metal tree sculptures of Mitchell House. In Ann Plummer’s oils it is the air above Falmouth that glows in sunset and cloud.

WATER- the sea is never more than a few miles away in Cornwall and here some stunning seascapes ishow Janet Shaw- Browne’s plein air energy, John Laver’s tranquil  North Cornwall sunsets and  Celia Jayne’s accomplished pastels. Richard Lannowe Hall evokes the great depth of the oceans in his oils- some of which are painted aboard his boat. Julian Rowe’s vertiginous cliffs and turbulent seas glow in the sunshine while Caroline Atkinson’s style changes subtly where the edge of the tide turns feathery white on the sand .

FIRE: Jeremy Capper’s distinctive wood sculptures derive their blackened textured surface from being set on fire as part of their creative process.

EARTH: Enjoy the landscapes by Paul Nicholls, Gordon Hunt and, as a newcomer, own barista Sam Hebburn- whose vigorous impasto acrylics of Truro and Falmouth are done without brushes.

Clay is used very strikingly by Audrey Jackson, who shows highly original sculptural pieces involving birds - one is suitable for a garden fountain. Gordon and Heather Hunt’s pottery pieces look as though they are made from solid earth. We have new raku from Chris Hawkins and a lovely bantam from Lynn Davey!

Lander newcomers this exhibition also include Andrea Hall and Sally Jones- do come and look at their work.

Over on the Classics side there is the best Douglas Pindar watercolour we have seen- showing the sea at Newquay- and Kurt Lachmann’s striking poster design for the 1936 Olympics.

CATHERINE WALLACE ART LECTURES

Catherine Wallace is familiar to Lander Gallery regulars as she is often behind the desk in the gallery and she curates the exhibitions for Lander Today.
She is also a popular lecturer and we have managed to locate a diary of her forthcoming lectures. Have a look and see if you can go to any! If you go to one you will probably want to go to the rest!

Friends of Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery Lunchtime Lecture
FAME FOR THE NEWLYN SCHOOL -At Home And Abroad in the 1880s and 90s
By Catherine Wallace
30TH OCTOBER 2012 - 1.10 - 2.00PM FREE PLYMOUTH CITY MUSEUM, DRAKE CIRCUS, PLYMOUTH, PL4 8AJ

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Truro DAFAS
Evening lecture
WOMEN ARTISTS IN CORNWALL 1880 - 1940
By Catherine Wallace
14TH NOVEMBER 2012 7.00 - 8.00PM £5 MYLOR LECTURE THEATRE, TRURO COLLEGE, TRURO

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Friends of Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery Lunchtime Lecture
HAROLD HARVEY– A Cornish Painter and friends
By Catherine Wallace
27 NOVEMBER 2012 1.10 - 2.00PM FREE
PLYMOUTH CITY MUSEUM, DRAKE CIRCUS, PLYMOUTH, PL4 8AJ

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Friends of Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery Lunchtime Lecture
LAMORNA BIRCH - A LEADER IN CORNISH LANDSCAPE PAINTING
By Catherine Wallace 8 JANUARY 2013 1.10 - 2.00PM FREE
PLYMOUTH CITY MUSEUM, DRAKE CIRCUS, PLYMOUTH, PL4 8AJ 

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Friends of Penlee House Museum, Penzance
Evening lecture
PLAYS,POEMS AND FAIRYTALES: The literary inspired work and historic revival in Newlyn School Art By Catherine Wallace 20 MAY 2013 7.30 - 8.30pm (Friends £2.00, non members £3.00). Booking is essential - please phone PENLEE HOUSE on 01736 363625
PENLEE HOUSE MUSEUM, MORRAB GARDENS, MORRAB ROAD, PENZANCE 

OPIE TALK IN EPSOM

Viv Hendra gave a lecture on JOHN OPIE, THE CORNISH WONDER to the Epsom Decorative and Fine Arts Society yesterday. The interest in Opie was considerable.

There was a point of local reference at HATCHLANDS, also in Surrey. That house was built for Admiral Boscawen in 1756 following his naval triumphs. The Boscawen family is essentially Cornish and the historic country seat is not Hatchlands, but Tregothnan, near Truro.

Boscawen's widow played an important part in launching the career of Opie when he arrived in London in the winter of 1779/1780. As the story goes, she was in her London house when she happened to read the 1779 Annual Register in which Wolcot's poem on the death of her son Edward Glanville Boscawen had finally been published. Deeply moved, she contacted Wolcot who then made sure she met Opie. Then it was Mrs Bos who organised the portrait of her friend Mrs Delany and the introduction to George lll which transformed the artist's life.
If all this sounds complicated you will find it clearly told in JOHN OPIE: THE CORNISH WONDER, copies of which are still available at the Lander Gallery.

Hatchlands is now a National Trust property and the collection includes a self portrait by Opie (not a Boscawen piece)

FASHION SHOW RAISES £3,000 FOR CORNWALL HOSPICE CARE

Yes the Rotary Club of Truro Boscawen staged a fashion show at the gallery last night (March 21st)

The models showed clothes from PHASE EIGHT (hers) and MOSS (his).

With all tickets sold and a waiting list established several weeks before the event, there was a happy atmosphere as our favourite compere DAPHNE SKINNARD left her BBC microphone for the evening to describe the garments in her distinctively light and entertaining style.

Organiser Jenny Hall had conjured up an amazing range of prizes which ensured that raffle tickets sold out completely.

A great evening

Here is Daphne Skinnard with microphone in hand, watching the models descend the staircase

JOSHUA REYNOLDS- THE TRURO CONNECTION!

Indeed indeed there IS a strong connection between Truro and Joshua Reynolds which your ignorant blogger had not realised until now.

Sir Joshua Reynolds was devoted to his niece THEOPHILA PALMER- he painted numerous portraits of her. In 1770 she moved into his London home where she acted as hostess and housekeeper- Reynolds being unmarried.
"Offy" as she was popularly known, was an artist herself.
In January 1781 she married Robert Lovell Gwatkin and moved away from the Reynolds house.

Where did she live?
Truro!
Certainly from 1783 until 1813 the Gwatkins resided at Killiow, that fine Georgian residence at Playing Place which was then newly constructed by Gwatkin himself.

Thus it is that there were Reynolds pictures hanging at Killiow, including that superb portrait of Offy reading (which does not look so good in the image I have attached)

SPRING SUNSHINE

RICHARD LANNOWE HALL: SURFERS AT THE END OF THE DAY

You might be glad of your wetsuit but the sun is shining on the patterns that ripple across the sand in Cornwall today.

Richard Lannowe Hall understands the processes of the ocean and his paintings have a depth which fascinates.
PATTERNS IN NATURE now showing at the Lander

NEW PATTERNS AT THE LANDER GALLERY

PATTERNS AT THE LANDER GALLERY

The Lander Gallery has been redecorated throughout- the colour is appropriately called CORNISH CLAY. All is freshness and light; Lander Classics has exchanged sides with Lander Today and there is a refreshing newness in the air.

PATTERNS IN NATURE is the theme on the modern side. Caroline Atkinson concntrates on the lines of the shadows cast by the grass at Lelant in the image shown here.  

Richard Lannowe Hall, Gordon Hunt, Celia Jayne and John Laver have also turned their attention to patterns in rocks, sand, trees and the world in general. Kevin Cooper’s framed prints arrange pictures into patterns.

The art of weaving is based on pattern and the Lander welcomes the imaginative woven pieces by Debbie Rudolph. Her scarves, bags and purses combine modern style with traditional patterns.

Silk also lends itself to patterns and we have exquisitely decorated scarves and wraps by Claire Armitage.

The jewellery and ceramics have all moved too- Lynda Styles shows some colourful wall hanging plaques.

On the CLASSICS side there are the impressive portraits of the first and second Thomas Carlyon of Tregrehan at St Austell. These historically important portraits have been brought back to Cornwall by the Lander Gallery, having stayed in the Carlyon family but out of the county for many years. Our own research has discovered that the earlier of the two portraits dates from about 1680 and is by John Riley- who painted Charles ll and James ll and was Court Painter to William and Mary. This is an exceptionally fine portrait in impressive condition. Here is a rare chance to acquire two significant paintings from Cornish history.

You will be very welcome if you call at the Lander.

Some of the works are on our website www.landergallery.co.uk 

If you enjoy Twitter you can even follow @vivhendra

OUR TRURO PAINTING ON THE BBC

CLICK HERE < http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/uk-england-devon-17068558 >
The painting of Truro's HIGH CROSS area was on out blog last week but such is its fascination that it has featured in the West Briton (page three no less) and Radio Cornwall.
BBC Spotlight's David George presented a very good piece on the television last night.

Here is a chance to see it again:
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/uk-england-devon-17068558 >

THE SECOND THOMAS CARLYON of TREGREHAN

Here is the second THOMAS CARLYON OF TREGREHAN, artist unknown.

This would probably date from the 1720s. Like the portrait of Thomas Carlyon the first, it is currently on display and for sale at the Lander Gallery.

TRURO SCHOOL AT THE ROYAL CORNWALL MUSEUM

The exhibition of the TRURO SCHOOL ART COLLECTION has just opened at the Royal Cornwall Museum. It is an outstanding show, well worth a visit. There are about 100 pictures there, all of high quality, all related in some way and all part of the astonishing collection assembled for the school by David Heseltine.

That any school should have on its walls such an important collection of significant art is remarkable; that it is here in Truro is even more so.

A roll call of contemporary Cornish artists would evidently include an unexpectedly large number of Truro School alumni.

The emphasis is on contemporary work though it is good to be met at the entrance by this glorious OLSSON painting. Heseltine points out that Olsson taught Borlase Smart, who taught Lanyon.. and the links go on before our very eyes.

Where did the Olsson come from? The Lander Gallery of course.

MORE ABOUT THAT TRURO PAINTING

Incidentally, to the left of the Assembly Rooms in the Truro picture is a lower building with blinds. I do not know who was there when the picture was painted, but by the time the cathedral was built, it was home to RICHARD HENDRA. He was a plumber and tinsmith and had the name painted large on the upper walls. Yes he was my great- grandfather. I remember my grandfather and his sister talking about growing up in High Cross and and playing in the boxes of the Assembly Room Theatre next door! VH

FASCINATING PAINTING OF TRURO

Just arrived at the Lander Gallery is this painting of Truro which is about two centuries old.

TRURO  HIGH CROSS, c 1800.

This is a unique piece of history.

WHAT CAN YOU SEE?

The church in the centre is the old St Mary’s, as it was before the construction of the cathedral. We know the clock and spire were added in the 1770s. Around the church is the old graveyard wall, before it was given iron railings in 1824. When the cathedral was built, the church was demolished and only the south aisle was preserved as part of the new building. So the cathedral covered the area of the churchyard and moved out to fill much of the open space seen in this painting. The West door of the cathedral is now not far from the elegant grey building on the left. This still stands today- it now houses offices and a baker’s shop. When it opened in 1787 it was the Assembly Rooms, containing a theatre and various rooms for cards and entertainments. In this picture the building looks smart and new. Some of the buildings on the left have gone but it is recognisable.

There is a big redbrick house on the left with the ground floor as the ironmonger’s called Carkeek. Clearly defined in the window are domestic wares such as candlesticks, cutlery, plates and a clock face. Now it is PHONES 4U

To the right of the picture, the sign for King Street hangs on the house which is now Swarovski’s.

WHAT CAN YOU SEE?

THE COBBLES

The KING STREET sign

THE LEAT runs through the channel- as it still does- but there is a woman washing clothes in it.

The PUMP

The STOCKS for criminals

THE COWS

RICH MAN, POOR MAN, SHOPKEEPER, SERVANT,  FARMER

The artist has chosen the figures with care to show a cross section of Truro society . There are representatives of the labouring classes, the tradespeople the farmers, the servants and the gentry.

The whole scene has a tranquil serenity which is not so easy to imagine on a busy day today as cows have given way to cars and the village pump is no more use than the leats for washing clothes.

The painting has an interesting history. In the 19^th century, it was sold as a view of old Kensington and went to a fine collection in Berkshire. By chance a Cornishman happened recognise High Cross. He wrote to a friend in Truro and the story was published in the Royal Cornwall Gazette on Boxing Day 1884.

Who painted it? We do not know the artist and there is no signature.

THOMAS CARLYON OF TREGREHAN is back in Cornwall

Two exceptionally interesting Cornish portraits have been brought back to the county by the Lander Gallery. They show THOMAS CARLYON OF TREGREHAN 1st

and his son THOMAS CARLYON OF TREGREHAN 2nd

Research by the Lander has discovered that the above portrait is painted by one of the most significant artists of his age- John Riley.

Illustrated above is the earlier of the two.

JOHN RILEY (1646- 1691)

portrait of 

THOMAS CARLYON OF TREGREHAN 1st (1658- 1724)

Oil on canvas 

30” x 25”

Provenance: Family descent, away from Tregrehan for some time. 

THOMAS CARLYON OF TREGREHAN (the first)

The Carlyon family have  been at Tregrehan since 1565, steadily increasing their estates and prosperity. 

Thomas Carlyon commenced the construction of TREGREHAN HOUSE in 1680.

IN 1681 he married AGNES AGUS (d1728) widow of Peter Allen

The portrait PROBABLY DATES FROM AROUND THIS TIME.

Throughout his life he worked to increase the Carlyon estates.

He is buried in the church at St Blazey.

THE ARTIST: JOHN RILEY

John Riley was one of the foremost portraitists of his time. Carlyon would have been making a dramatic statement by commissioning such a significant artist. In 1682 Riley charged £40 for a portrait- an enormous amount at that time.

His subjects included Charles ll (a famous image) and James ll. He was appointed Court painter to William and Mary. Pictures often published include the portrait of Ashmole at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, and of Samuel Pepys. 

The curator of 17^th century portraits at the National Portrait Gallery has confirmed the attribution of this painting to John Riley.

JANUARY STUDIO SALE CONTINUES

The STUDIO SALE continues apace at the Lander. A number of artists have been sorting through their studios and deciding to part with some of their work at considerably reduced prices.

 These are gallery quality pieces, all very desirable, so you might be interested to come and have a look before the Studio Sale ends at the end of next week.