British Impressionists

1. Introduction >
2. Henry Scott Tuke
3. Victorian & Edwardian Artists >


Henry Scott Tuke

The work of the Falmouth artist Henry Scott Tuke RA is represented alongside important works by Dame Laura Knight RA, Sir Alfred Munnings RA, William Osborne, Arnesby Brown and Alfred Parsons. Henry Scott Tuke, was born in York, but came to live in Falmouth as a child with his family when they had a house in Woodlane. After studying art in London and Paris, he returned to Cornwall in 1885 and settled in Falmouth for the rest of his life, living in a cliff-top cottage at Pennance Point. He also bought a boat, the Julie de Nantes, on which to paint. Tuke, like Hemy, also painted the boats and harbour scenes of Falmouth. He became famous for his paintings of the male nude, painted outdoors on the beaches around Falmouth as well as for his society portraits. Falmouth town's collection has four major oils by Tuke: Study for Bathing Boys, 1912, The Message, 1890, French Barque in Falmouth Bay, and a Study for The Message, 1890 (purchased with grant aid from the NACF and the V & A Purchase Fund). In addition Falmouth Art Gallery regularly shows Tuke paintings from the important collection owned by The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society.