Henry Scott Tuke, R.A. (1858-1929)

The sitter is Charlie Mitchell (1885–1957) who modelled for Tuke from the age of 16 until his 30's. He looked after Tuke’s boats and used to row the artist out from Swanpool where he lived, into Falmouth Bay so he could paint the many tall ships that visited the harbour. This painting can be dated to between 1910 and 1912 as Tuke undertook several other paintings at this time of boys posing in front of the same blue/grey-coloured rocks including R777, Sketch of two boys and a dog against blue rock, which was gifted to Falmouth Art Gallery by the collector Alfred de Pass in 1923.

We are grateful to Catherine Wallace for her help in preparing this catalogue entry.