Walter Langley, R.I.

Bought from the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists exhibition in 1901 by the family of the present owner and thence by descent

London, Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour, 1901;
Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery, Autumn Exhibition, 1901;
Birmingham, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, 1901

Roger Langley, Walter Langley, Pioneer of the Newlyn Colony, 1997, p.168

STRUCTURE The sheet is sound and is laid down. There are a few isolated specks of foxing but generally the work is in good original condition with strong colours throughout. FRAME Held under glass in a gilt plaster frame with some losses to the mouldings.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In the courtyard of a Newlyn fisherman's cottage a family of locals gather around an easel to inspect the work of the artist, who has momentarily put down his brushes and stepped aside. Local Critics is a rare, possible even unique, example of an artist's materials being included in a Newlyn painting. Langley had been living in Cornwall for almost twenty years, having been one of the first artists to settle in Newlyn and by 1901 the local fisherfolk were very used to seeing artists painting in the cobbled streets and on the quayside. The same courtyard had been painted as early as 1883 by Thomas Cooper Gotch in his painting Hiding from Granny and it was the setting for Langley's large oil painting of 1898 A Cousin from Town. The trio of models who posed for Local Critics were the same as those in When the Boats are Away and Waiting the Return of the Fleet of 1903 The blouse worn by the young girl was originally white and belonged to a Newlyn woman named Mrs Tregurtha who dyed it pink but decided it did not suit her complexion and gave it to Langley.