It is said that the foundations of any great painting lies with the artist’s ability to draw, and an exhibition at Penlee House Gallery & Museum, Penzance, this autumn demonstrates that this is certainly true of the world famous Newlyn School painters. Until now, it has largely been overlooked that many of the leading Newlyn artists demonstrated their masterly draughtsmanship not only with a brush, but also through outstanding drawings and etchings produced alongside their painted works. Inspired by the title of Dame Laura Knight’s autobiography, Penlee House’s autumn exhibition, ‘The Magic of a Line’, showcases a selection of rarely seen drawings and etchings by artists including Stanhope Forbes, Walter Langley, Elizabeth Forbes, Charles Napier Hemy and W.H.Y. Titcomb, as well as Laura Knight herself, of course.
As one would expect, most of the Newlyners produced preparatory drawings and sketches, and these fresh and energetic studies have a quality all their own. Several of the artists also used charcoal or pencil to produce large-scale finished works, and this exhibition will prove that you don’t always need colour to produce a moving and memorable image. Walter Langley, in particular, often produced full sized charcoal versions of his watercolours, and the exhibition includes powerful black and white versions of several of his best known and most loved works, shown publicly for the first time.
Printmaking also provided a vehicle for virtuoso draughtsmanship, particularly for Elizabeth Forbes and Laura Knight, examples of whose works are included in the exhibition on loan from the V&A, Royal Academy and British Museum in London, and from Nottingham Castle Museum. The exhibition includes loans from public and private collections throughout the UK, offering a unique chance to see drawings and prints ranging from delicate and intimate sketchbook studies to ‘knock-your-socks-off’ charcoals.
Organised to coincide with the Campaign for Drawing’s ninth annual ‘Big Draw’ celebration, Penlee House hopes that the exhibition will inspire visitors to get out a pencil and ‘take a line for a walk’ themselves. Throughout the period of the show visitors will be encouraged to take part in drawing activities, and there will be paper, pencils and other relevant material for all to pick up and use. There will also be a variety of workshops on offer, for children and adults: please telephone Penlee House on 01736 363625 for further details.
‘The Magic of a Line’ runs from 20 September to 22 November 2008, and is open Monday to Saturday, 10.30 to 4.30 (last admission 4.00 pm). Bonhams have sponsored the exhibition to coincide with their sale ‘Under a Western Sky – The Art of Newlyn and St Ives’ which will take place at their Bond Street, London, auction house on 19 November 2008.
