Painted in 1921 en plein air’ at the bottom of Abbey Slip in Penzance, this superb example of Forbes’s later work combines meticulous recording of the built environment with highly accomplished painterly technique, brilliantly capturing the play of light on water. The painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1922 and was also included in the landmark ‘Painting in Newlyn’ exhibition at the Barbican Art Gallery, London, in 1985. Since then it has been exhibited many times at Penlee House.
The painting was first purchased from the artist in 1921 by Miss F. Holman, whose family’s engineering business was based in the buildings depicted. The current vendor, a local man, purchased it from the trustees of Miss Holman’s estate in 1973 and the painting has remained in his possession ever since.