The expansion of the Great Western Railway made previously remote locations like Newlyn and Cornwall more accessible, drawing artists to their picturesque valleys and invigorating sea air. Forbes believed that painting en plein air was most rewarding when artists confronted the challenges of the natural environment. His works embody a sensitivity to light, shadow, and water, elements that became hallmarks of the Newlyn School. Early members, including Walter Langley and Frank Bramley, embraced a style often described as Grand Naturalism. Newlyn became synonymous with outdoor painting, and by the early 20th century, its artists regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy, solidifying the movement’s legacy.

In our March Modern & Contemporary Art sale, we are delighted to present works by three of the most celebrated Newlyn School artists—painters who embraced innovation while preserving a vision of the old world through their unique lens.

Samuel John Lamorna Birch

Samuel John Lamorna Birch (Lots 23, 26, 27 & 31) was one of the most dedicated members of the Lamorna artists’ colony, situated on the southern coast near St Ives. Deeply influenced by Forbes, Birch fully immersed himself in painting, adopting the name "Lamorna" (suggested by Forbes) to distinguish himself from fellow artist Lionel Birch. After leaving his office job, he briefly trained at the Atelier Colarossi in France, paving the way for his eventual relocation to Lamorna. By 1902, he had settled there permanently, frequently painting Cornwall’s landscapes while indulging in his hobbies of fishing and exploring a more expressive, spirited approach to art.

Dame Laura Knight

Another work in the sale, Lamorna Cove No. 7 by Dame Laura Knight (Lot 33), engages in a visual dialogue with Birch’s paintings of the region. Comparing Birch’s The Post Office, Lamorna (Lot 26) with Knight’s depiction of the cove reveals a shared appreciation for the halcyon days and brilliant light of the Cornish coast. For Knight, her time in Lamorna was pivotal, marking the beginning of her distinctive brushwork and adoption of watercolours as a medium, perhaps because of its light pigmentation that enabled Knight to capture the sensitivity of light and water. Lamorna Cove No. 7 beautifully conveys the interplay of sunlight on water, with shimmering reflections across the sea and land. The scene evokes midsummer tranquillity—warmth, leisure, and the rhythmic sound of waves.

Alfred Munnings

While staying in Lamorna, Knight formed a close friendship with Alfred Munnings, another artist featured in our sale. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Munnings rejected depictions of modernisation, preferring instead to celebrate enduring British country life traditions. This perspective aligned with Knight’s own preference for portraying everyday life, despite her later ventures into theatrical and Ballets Russes designs.

Munnings’ Willows Near Langham Pool (Lot 45) stands out as a striking landscape, echoing the Newlyn School’s aesthetic despite depicting a scene outside Cornwall. Likely painted near Langham in Essex, close to Munnings’ home in Dedham, the work nonetheless shares the movement’s spirit of artistic freedom and immersion in nature.

Newlyn School

Munnings and Knight often painted side by side outdoors, and their mutual influence helped sustain the presence of the Newlyn School at the Royal Academy exhibitions throughout the interwar years. Their luminous, serene compositions offer a window into the aspirations of artists seeking solace and beauty during turbulent times. British art of the era took many divergent paths—from the social realism of the Camden Town Group to the expressive work of the London School—but in the later generations of Newlyn artists, we see something distinct: a vision of nature as a refuge, a symbol of hope amidst uncertainty.

Art conveys emotion, and some paintings offer profound insight into the feelings of their creators. Knight, Munnings, and Lamorna Birch left behind a legacy that captures their moments of tranquillity and artistic devotion. Thanks to Forbes’ pioneering vision, their work laid the foundation for future generations of British painters. At Dreweatts, we are honoured to present these works together, celebrating the friendships and artistic visions that intertwined to shape a remarkable chapter in British art history.

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Auction Details

Wednesday 12 March 2025, 10.30am GMT
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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VIEWING:

• Viewing at Dreweatts Newbury: Donnington Priory, RG14 2JE
  • Sunday 9 March: 10am-3pm
  • Monday 10 March: 10am-4pm
  • Tuesday 11 March: 10am-4pm
  • Wednesday 12 March: 9am-1pm
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