Marine painting exhibition celebrates Cornish artists in Penzance

An exhibition celebrating paintings of the Cornish coast from leading marine artists has opened at Penlee House Gallery & Museum and runs until 3 September.

Compass’d by the Inviolate Sea: Marine Painting in Cornwall from Turner to Wallis demonstrates how the magnificent coastline and seas around Cornwall inspired artists during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The exhibition features a wide range of styles and highlights the important role that Cornish artists played in the development of British marine painting.

Gallery Director Louise Connell says: “This exhibition includes much-loved works from public collections across the UK, together with virtually unknown works from private collections. The show will give a rare opportunity for paintings that have seldom been on public display to be seen ‘back home’ in Cornwall, in the context of the landscape and community which inspired them.”

From the 19th century onwards, artists were drawn to the Cornish coast, capturing on paper and canvas the romance and rawness of high seas and rocky shores. After JMW Turner’s paintings and engravings from his visits in 1811 and 1813 became widely known, leading British marine artists painted in Cornwall, producing iconic images of places such as Land’s End, St Michael’s Mount, Kynance Cove, Gurnard’s Head and Tintagel.

In April 2014 Cornwall was granted minority status under European rules for the protection of national minorities.

“Cornwall has a distinct landscape and identity,” says Phil Gibby, Area Director, South West, Arts Council England. “Our Area Plan identifies our aim to work with partners in Cornwall to develop a cultural offer that responds to Parliament’s granting of National minority status to Cornish language and identity. We’re really pleased to be supporting this exhibition that celebrates the place of Cornish artists in our cultural history.” 

Penlee House Museum & Gallery are part of a consortium of Museums in Cornwall that we support through our Major Partner Museum portfolio funding.

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Read more about our Major Partner Museums here.