The Newlyn Artists - Pt 2 Edwin Harris and the Birmingham Boys
In Part 1, I described how Birmingham artist Walter Langley adopted Newlyn as his home with the objective of creating everyday scenes similar to the French artists who painted en plein air. Being the first notable artist to settle in the port, he is generally regarded as founder of the art colony known as the Newlyn School – but there was another contender.
Langley’s artistic career began at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) where he became a close friend of Edwin Harris, who also decided to take his palettes down to Newlyn. Harris was born at Ladywood in 1855 and entered Birmingham School of Art at the age of 14, and apart from Walter Langley, his fellow colleagues included William John Wainright and William Breakspeare: All four of them were involved in forming the Birmingham Art Circle whose objective was to give encouragement to younger artists, but their close association also meant that the ‘Birmingham Boys’ would all end up down at Newlyn.
It didn’t happen straight away as their career paths first took them over to the continent, and in particular Brittany. In 1880, after exhibiting his work with Birmingham art dealer Edward Chamberlain, Harris, (along with his colleague William Wainwright) enrolled at the Royal Academy of Antwerp where he was strongly influenced by Charles Verlat, the Academy’s Professor of Painting, who himself was influenced by the French en plein air artists.
After arriving back in Birmingham, Harris was keen to develop the skills he had been taught in Antwerp, and thanks to a sponsorship from Edwin Chamberlain, he travelled down to Newlyn before teaming up with William Breakspeare on a cross-channel trip to Brittany. The wealthy art dealer must have had a soft spot for Harris because he sponsored him for a return visit the following year where he painted at colonies in Pont-Aven and Dinan.
Chamberlain’s soft spot for Harris may have had something to do with the fact that the artist had a soft spot for his niece Sarah, and after getting married, the couple moved down to Newlyn in 1883. This was a year after Langley moved his own family down, but two years after his first visit in 1881. Harris’s biographer suggests that because his arrival in Newlyn was ahead of Langley, Harris was the first of the Newlyn School artists, but most people don’t see it quite the same way, it has to be said.
It would have been no coincidence that both artists found themselves in Newlyn, because not only were they good friends, they had the same aspirations in creating the equivalent of a Breton art colony in Cornwall.
There were similarities between the two artists’ work, but there were also marked differences. Generally speaking, Langley’s paintings concentrated on the harsher side of Newlyn life (although that changed as the years went by), whereas Harris tended to show his subjects in a much calmer environment, often with a single light source such as a window.
Below are a couple of oil on canvas paintings showing the calmer side of fishing life.
In 1884, after a short stay in the nearby village of Paul, Mr and Mrs Harris moved into Cliff Castle Cottage, Newlyn, where his wife gave birth to a son the same year, but the life they were hoping for together was cut short when Sarah died three years later at the age of only twenty five.
In 1895, Edwin married Sally Cornwell, a Penzance girl and friend of Walter Langley, but instead of staying in Mounts Bay he spent the next three years painting in Cardiff, Newport and Bristol, before returning to Birmingham. He died in 1906 aged 50 in Cleeve Prior, Worcestershire.
Although he met with some commercial success, Harris never really achieved much recognition during his lifetime, but his influence of attracting other artists to Newlyn marks him out as one of the important founding members of the Newlyn Art School, and in the next and final part of this mini-series I’ll tell you who they were and why Edwin Harris and the Birmingham Boys had a part to play in why they came.
Below is a YouTube video by Marinella Mancinelli that shows some more of his work.
POSTED – FEBRUARY 2025
Originally posted 2025-02-17 15:49:11.
I’m very much enjoying this series on the Newlyn school, Malc, especially as it’s the kind of realistic art I prefer. I’m absolutely no expert on art, but I can certainly appreciate a well observed and produced and observed. Edwin Harris was clearly another hugely talented artist, and looking at his style and wonderful portfolio I can see why he and Langley might have been friends – there are significant similarities in their work yet they (at least initially) approached the fishing life from different angles, so they will presumably have complimented one another in that respect. Still, both artists’ creations tell stories of one kind or another, and I do find the gentle, more reflective style of Harris particularly appealing. I love his use of light, especially the single-window source that, in my view, adds so much natural ‘mood lighting’ to the scene. ‘The Fisherman’s Rest’ is incredibly evocative, as are several of his similar paintings in the video, such as the two old men reading newspapers and the elderly lady at her sewing beside the fireplace. Wonderful.
One thing that struck me as I read through, is that Harris didn’t actually stay long in Newlyn, but instead seems to have moved around a fair bit during his lifetime. As I mentioned before, I’m no art historian, but perhaps that may be one of the reasons why he didn’t achieve the same recognition as Langley did? Langley established himself in Newlyn and stayed put, cementing a strong reputation and connection to the area, while Harris worked in several different locations, perhaps never putting down any solid roots. Looking at the two men’s work I can’t see any other reason why one should be more successful than the other. It certainly doesn’t seem to be a question of talent or quality of their output. Unless it was an issue of influential contacts? Even then, Harris had his sponsor in Chamberlain, even before he married his niece. Interesting, indeed. So thanks for another fine instalment in the story of the Newlyn school, and I’m already looking forward to the next. 🙂
Thanks for your wonderful comment Alli. It shows that you’ve engrossed yourself enough in this post to appreciate the artist’s work, even though, like me, you profess not to be an art expert. I think you’ve summed it all up perfectly, and I also reckon that Harris’s connection with Chamberlain meant that he didn’t have to extend himself too much to sell his paintings. Your comment has really made my day. Thank you! 😊
Glad to have made your day, Malc! Likewise, thanks for giving me a great read, and some great food for historical thought. 🙂
😳🙏
A winderful post Malc. These paintings are beautiful. The detail is unbelievable actually.
Thanks Shey. These artists I believe will appeal to people who don’t necessarily enjoy art, and that can only be a good thing. Thanks again for your X plug. ⭐
No bother. These artists were amazing, especially for he reaons you mention. .
nice work Malc
Thank you so much. As an artist yourself I take that as a real compliment.
Thank you, Malc, for the excellent part 2 dedicated to talented painters! Your eloquent history part explained the beginning in Birmingham before moving to Newlyn. All the artists presented were overwhelmingly talented, and I love the paintings and the subjects connected with the fishermen and their families. Like the visitors to any gallery, I could too sit and gaze with admiration at the wonderful paintings. Thank you, Malc, for the series that I love, and don’t want to end!
Joanna
Thank you Joanna. There’s one more part to come and I hope you enjoy that one as well. It’s unusual for me to do a blog without too many of my own images but art galleries won’t always let you take photographs as you probably know.
Yes, Malc, I know, and I will like the follow up one too!
Joanna
I hope so!
Fascinating post, Malc. I like the style and subject matter of these paintings. As someone who can barely trace my own hand with a pencil, I admire people who can paint well enough to make you both think and enjoy the painting. Wonder what they would do with the mundane modern world.
Like I said to Francesc, these type of artists allowed us a glimpse into the world they lived in, and more to the point, they could paint a picture how they wanted to without the restrictions that normal photography brings. Having said that photography these days can do much the same. That’s why I liked photographers like Henri Cartier Bresson who was an expert at catching an exact moment in time. He knew exactly when to press the shutter – but I digress.
Another great post Malc and another artist I’d never heard of. His paintings are so detailed and realistic, I can appreciate these more than some of the stuff which people call ‘art’ these days. I like the video, my favourite work is the girl and the dog – it evokes, to me at least – a feeling of calm and peacefulness 😊
I agree Eunice and thanks for your kind comments. I also liked the one that you’re talking about. I’m writing about Newlyn to show that there’s more to Penwith than say St Ives where people flock to.
His portraits are lovely, Malc. It must be incredible to produce such vivid likenesses.
As somebody who has no artistic ability whatsoever Jo I do admire those that have.
I’m the same, Malc xx
The life and the wanderings of artists is always interesting, especially those from that time period. And these post-impressionist artists are now getting popular after being somewhat obscure… Good post Malc, and nice information. I do like Edwin Harris.
Thanks for the endorsement Francesc. I’ve always liked the Newlyn Artists
Great masters for sure Malc.
I like realist artists because it shows us what life was like before photography became commonplace.
That’s true Malc, and before the XXth century all were either religious or realistic…
Very True!
👍🏻
You have shared another fantastic and well researched article on the Newlyn artists, which I have thoroughly enjoyed reading
I have liked not only your words and the images you posted, but also the additional artwork by Harris in the video 🤗
Thanks Luisa. I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s all part of Newlyn’s rich tapestry, and the video was by an Italian girl too ☺️
Many thanks to you for your kind reply, dear Malc 🙏🤗🙏
My pleasure Luisa 🙏😊
🙏🤗🙏