A gem from Newlyn School

JO CLARKE EXPLORES THE WORK OF AN IRISH ARTIST WHO SETTLED IN CORNWALL

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THIS oil painting dates from 1911 and was gifted to the city’s art collection nearly 100 years ago, in 1927. It’s called ‘Among the Pots,’ and it was created by Norman Garstin (1847-1926).

We believe it may have been exhibited at London’s prestigious Royal Academy the same year it was painted. The central figure is a woman dressed in black with a blue apron tied around her waist and with her hair up. She sits surrounded by large pots and bowls in shades of brown, black and blue. She looks like she’s reading, or possibly writing in a small book.