Rheam, Henry Meynell

Biography

Henry Meynell Rheam RI – 1859 – 1920

Born in Birkenhead, Rheam first exhibited in London in 1887. He studied in London, Paris and Germany, and was primarily a watercolourist.

Rheam first settled in Polperro but moved to Newlyn in 1890. The reason for this move was explained by Stanhope Forbes:

‘The annual cricket match between the artists of St Ives and Newlyn was one of the chief sporting events of the year and about the time I speak of, St Ives had acquired two notable batsmen and Newlyn seemed likely to endure defeat. But in a fortunate moment, the situation was saved, for Harry Rheam, that notable cricketer, was imported at great expense from Polperro. He remained with us ever after and we had reason to remember gratefully the rivalry between the two colonies in the noble game’.

In 1900 Rheam married Alice Elliott and they lived at Boase Castle Lodge, Belle Vue, later moving to West Lodge in Penzance where they lived until his death in 1920.