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.