WILLIAM BANKS FORTESCUE, R.W.A., R.B.S.A. (BRITISH, 1850-1924)

Born in Birmingham, William Banks Fortescue worked alongside Langley and other members of the Birmingham Art Circle. He moved from Southport to Cornwall in 1885, after having studied in Venice and Paris, and initially settled at Newlyn where he became close to the Forbes family. From 1894 he lived at Trelyon Cottage, St Ives and, like many of his contemporaries, he specialised in subjects showing working life in Cornwall, including woodcutting, blacksmithing and fishing.

The present dramatic view of the harbour at St Ives from the hill above the town shows the fleet heading out to the fishing grounds. A comparable work Children picnicking above St. Ives, showing the fleet returning in the background, was sold at Sotheby's, London, 30 September 1998, lot 2.