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Visit Penlee House & Museum

Penlee House is a Gallery, Museum, Cafe and Shop. Situated within Penlee Park, a space to reflect and great for family visits.

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A space for exhibitions & events

Alongside our Exhibition programme we run a variety of community events and workshops. The Newlyn School and Social history galleries change often. Find out what’s on.

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A space to learn

Penlee House is committed to lifelong learning. We run workshops for all age groups and offer a school workshop programme.

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A space for all

Built in 1865, as the home of the Branwell family. Penlee House is home to many paintings by members of the Newlyn School. It is also home to the Penzance Natural History and Antiquarian Society collection.

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You can search and browse our collections online. We also have a section dedicated to the Newlyn School.

 

Hopton, Gwendoline

Whereas Stanhope Forbes referred to the Newlyn School as a ‘Brotherhood’, the St Ives art colony of the same period was much more gender balanced and Gwendoline Hopton was one of many talented, though little known or recognised, women artists working in the town.

Biography

Gwendoline Hopton – 1866 – 1913

Gwendoline Margaret Hopton was born in 1866 and she joined the St Ives artists colony some time between 1901 and 1910. Little is known about her life, but research carried out by the Art Prices Review in the 1990s discovered that she was the daughter of Captain Charles E. Hopton of the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

She started exhibiting from 1897 and showed works at the Royal Academy, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, the Royal Miniature Society and the Royal Society of Artists, Birmingham. She also held a solo show at the Walker’s Gallery in London.

Her promising career was cut tragically short when, on 14th July 1913, whilst cycling at Beckford (near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire), she collided with a carriage and sustained a fractured skull, from which she died.

Portfolio

  • Packing Fish, St Ives Harbour Oil on canvas. The George Bednar Donation.

Have you seen?

Visit Us

Penlee House is a beautiful art gallery and museum, set within sub-tropical gardens, with a great café.

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Exhibitions

Our vibrant exhibition programme celebrates the nationally important art and history of West Cornwall.

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Learning

From school visits to family activities, talks and walks, there are plenty of learning opportunities at Penlee House.

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Our Café

Enjoy a delicious lunch or coffee at the Orangery Café, with its sunny terrace overlooking the park.

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