Henry Scott Tuke, R.A., R.W.S.

Sale: Christie's, London, 9 November 1989, lot 25

This masterful watercolour by the British Impressionist Henry Scott Tuke was painted on Newporth beach in Falmouth, Cornwall close to where he lived from 1885 – 1929.

The model is Charlie Mitchell (1885 – 1957) who was Tuke’s boatman and posed as his model from 1905 until Tuke’s death. Mitchell used to row Tuke out from his house at Pennance Point in to Falmouth harbour so he could paint shipping scenes. Charlie Mitchell had a very strong back as a result and Tuke featured it in many of his male sea bather paintings.

This watercolour was probably painted in the summer of 1914, as Tuke used to date his paintings a year after he painted them, and by 1915 the First World War had begun, which lead to a ban on painting outdoors in coastal areas on the assumption by the authorities that the artist could be a spy. Tuke managed to gain a permit for painting outdoors by 1917.

We are grateful to Catherine Wallace for her assistance in authenticating this work and for this note.