St Ives

A sketch of waves breaking on Porthmeor Beach, St Ives. The viewpoint is low and close to the water. No horizon or sky is shown and the eye is taken to the line of waves breaking. The whites of the waves form a rhythmic pattern of light paint and through form and colour Everett has achieved his desired effect. St Ives was an important town for artists from the 1890s to the present day. Everett rented a studio at Porthmeor Beach during 1935 and he observed that although he had an ideal place to work, the weather was very cold and with east and north-easterly winds there were no seas. This was his first trip after an absence of 40 years, and he commented that things had changed and that the old town had gone. Porthmeor Beach was very popular with other artists. Everett first visited St Ives in 1896 when he records that he knew all the 80 artists then working in the town, many of whom were involved in establishing an artists' club. He was particularly friendly with Julius Olsson, president of the Arts Club, who also had a studio looking out over Porthmeor Beach. Olsson's paintings with their concentration on pure seascapes, the colour of the waves, and the effects of light on the surface of the water, were undoubtedly a major formative influence on Everett. The painting is inscribed 'St Ives' verso. See also BHC0223.

Object Details

ID: BHC0224
Collection: Fine art
Type: Painting
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Everett, (Herbert Barnard) John
Date made: 1935
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. Bequeathed by the artist 1949.
Measurements: Painting: 180 x 357 mm