Stanhope
Alexander Forbes
R.A., N.E.A.C. (1857-1947)
From: Fine Art Cornwall
Born on 18th November in Dublin.
His father was a railway manager and his mother French. It was she, Juliette
Forbes (nee de Guise), who was the driving influence in his life. He wrote
to her daily for many years, even after his marriage to Elizabeth Armstrong.
His interest in painting began on a family holiday in Ardennes, as a child.
When his father was transferred to London Stanhope was sent to Dulwich
College. He later studied art at the Lambeth School of Art and the RA Schools
and first exhibited at RA in 1878. He then spent two years studying in
Paris, from 1880. The following year he accompanied his friend, Henry La
Thangue, painting in Brittany – first in Cancale, then in Quimperlé.
It was in Cancale that he first made a name for himself with his painting
‘Street In Brittany’.
He moved to Newlyn in 1884 and in
that year painted his famous ‘Fish Sale on a Cornish Beach’ which was exhibited
at RA the following Spring. Later that year he met Elizabeth. In 1886 he
was one of the foundation members of the NEAC.
It was the sale of his ‘The
Health of the Bride’ to Henry Tate (now part of the Tate Gallery Collection)
for £600 which enabled the couple to marry in 1889. In 1892 he was
elected ARA. He exhibited at the inaugural exhibition at the Passmore Edwards
Gallery (now known as the Newlyn Art Gallery) along with his wife and other
artists, in 1895. They opened their Newlyn School of Painting in 1899.
He was elected RA in 1910.
Elizabeth died in 1912 and after
her death he had many of her letters, sketches and pastels burnt.
Three years later he married Maudie
Palmer, a former pupil of the school. That same year (May 1915) his son,
Alec, joined the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and was sent to the
front line in August 1916. He died in the line of duty three weeks later.
Stanhope Forbes died in Newlyn on
2nd March 1947. His many works also include ‘Buryas Bridge’ (oil on canvas,
1896), ‘A Safe Anchorage’ (oil on canvas, 1909) and ‘Young Anglers at Copperhouse
Pool, Hayle’ (oil on canvas, 1930). He also exhibited at Dowdeswells (1890),
Nottingham (1894) and Whitechapel (1902).
(Fine
Art Cornwall)
See also
Notes
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